Dorothea Ayers Mancke peacefully passed away on January 7, 2024, in the home of her daughter Nancy McManus, with family by her side at the age of 100 years young. She was born in the Bronx to Arthur Wacker and Ethel Buggeln Wacker in 1923.
Dorothea is predeceased by her husband Henry G. Mancke, brother Arthur Wacker, daughter-in-law Norma Mancke, and grandson Scott McManus.
She is survived by her children Dorothea Mancke in Sahuarita, Arizona, Henry A.P. (Susan) Mancke in Ithaca, NY, Nancy (Thomas) McManus in Wappingers Falls, NY, grandchildren Brian (Jennifer) Mancke, Bradley (Aubrey) Mancke, Robert Mancke and Kathleen (Joseph) McManus-Fayo, Heather Thomas, Abby Thomas (Eric Chapman), and John Thomas, Great Grandchildren Sullivan, Adia, Ruby, Azalea, Enzo, Connor, Inara, Julia, Emma, Eva and Theo.
Dorothea is celebrated as Mom, Grandma, Grams, Grandma Dot, Momma Dot, and Mrs. Mancke to many and loved by all, her smile and beautiful blue eyes remembered fondly.
When she was 8 years old Dot and her family walked on the George Washington Bridge the day it opened. She graduated from Walton High School in the Bronx, with graduation held at Carnegie Hall. Dot went on to work at the American Bank Note Company while taking college courses.
Dorothea married Henry Mancke in 1948 when he returned from serving in WW2, honeymooning in the Appalachians.
She was the last surviving member of her Lutheran Church Youth Group. They renamed themselves The SAMS, The Society for the Advancement of Merriment. They tried to meet every year for almost 80 years for a weekend in the autumn. The SAMS and their spouses would have Hor d’ourves, Manhattans, Whiskey, Wine, and Dinner, tell bawdy jokes and share HUGS with all. Many of their children and grandchildren would join them for an afternoon of frivolity and dinner.
Dorothea and Henry moved upstate, involving themselves in community activities. Dot was a member of the Charlotte Valley Rebekah Lodge #393 I.O.O.F. 1955-1978, Past Noble Grand in 1960-1961, District Deputy President 1966-1967. She joined the Oneonta Martha Chapter #116, Order of the Eastern Star in 1963, maintaining membership for the rest of her life. Dot held many chairs, including Worthy Matron 1972-1973, with Henry (32° Mason) as her Worthy Patron.