Dorothy C. Yoder

Dorothy Caroline Diefenbach was born on June 24, 1918 to George and Henrietta (Frankhauser) in Getzville, NY. She was the 3 rd of four children Edna, Edgar and Florence. Her father was a farmer in Amherst, NY and the homestead is now the current location of the State University of New York at Buffalo. At the age of 21, she married Oral David (Dick) Yoder, whom she was married to for 43 years until his death on February 14, 1981. They started their family with 3 beautiful daughters, pre-deceased by Bonnie (Tim Kraft), Myrna and Marjorie (Harry Knowle). During the early years, they lived on a farm living the dream. Soon after the family built a home on Millersport Highway with several other family members living in houses side by side. After ten years, Dorothy and Dick expanded their family with two more girls, Betty (Ross Payne) and Susan (Tom Mumma). The five girls rounded out the family. While raising the girls, Dorothy enjoyed being a homemaker known for canning peaches, Saturdays homemade kuchen, and countless batches of strawberry jam that her family enjoyed throughout the year. She prided herself that a hot meal was on the table every evening. The family attended church services and arrived home to a roast beef and mashed potato Sunday dinner. Dorothys daughters were active in 4-H involving countless trips for cooking and sewing meetings, extra guidance to support their learning and trekking oodles of muffins, cookies, and sewing projects to the Erie Country Fair. Even with the daily responsibilities, she often took on additional jobs including hand-painting numbers on golf balls and helping Dick with the family business of raising turkeys. The heart and soul of Dorothy was being extremely committed to her family. Whenever someone needed a hand, Dorothy was there to help out. She often watched one of her 9 grandchildren being grandma-care before infant day care was the norm. It was always with a deep sense of caring and love mixed in with humor. The little ones always were the winners in puzzle races, she made games of everyday tasks like setting the table and spoiled them with special attention like cutting sandwiches exactly just so. Once her daughters were more self-sufficient, she took up cake decorating. She enjoyed baking the cakes and experimenting with various decorating techniques. She became such an expert she baked and decorated the familys birthday cakes and even made wedding cakes for several of her daughters. She kept her mind sharp with avid reading, sewing, and knitting. Mostly every new shirt needed a tweak here or there, just a small adjustment to make it just perfect in keeping with her high standards. Dorothy was a fun-loving person. She loved playing Bingo, going to the casino, and playing cards. It was tough to beat her in Chinese Checkers even in her last years. Just because she was a bit older, that didnt stop her from going places. If tired, she would say I can sleep tomorrow. Im not ready to go. Even her last Thanksgiving, at 101, she stayed with her family to the end of the day, enjoying a few games of cards and Turkey races. She loved to laugh and often made a quick, little humorous remark when you least expected it. Drummer boy quarters, state specific quarters and other specialty coins gave her a kick to collect. Her daughters and grandchildren would save them for Gram with each one putting a smile on her face. Of course, you couldnt leave without her paying you back for that quarter or two she received. Dorothy was an extremely strong and tenacious person. It was difficult for her to ask for assistance and she always came up with a way to accomplish a task that had become hard for her to do. She raised her children to be self-reliant and hardworking while also being kind and caring. Simple gestures of kindness were often sprinkled in her daily activities. It is the end of an era for her family with Mom / Grandma / Great-Grandma / GiGis leaving this world on June 24, 2020 on her 102 birthday. During her time with us she survived the Great Depression, two (2) World Wars and two (2) pandemics. She was the last of her siblings and their spouses to enter heaven. She is survived by 4 daughters, 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren. She will be missed by her family, but remembered for all of our lives for the things she taught us and how well she loved us. A private ceremony is scheduled for Friday, July 3 rd for immediate family members only. Flowers are gratefully declined. Anyone wishing to do so can donate in her honor to her favorite charity, St. Judes Childrens Hospital.