Obituary of Dorothy Masle Preston

HERKIMER - Dorothy Masle Preston, born in Little Falls, NY, on August 25, 1926, to Slovenian immigrant parents, Lawrence Masle and Johanna (Skof), died, at Little Falls Hospital, on August 23, 2022, having been a resident of Valley Residential Services. Dorothy graduated from Little Falls High School, the class of 1944, where she was a member of the Slovenian Hall. After the war, Dorothy wed Robert Preston, on May 19, 1951 and enjoyed 45 years of marriage. They built their home on Steuben Hill in Herkimer NY, where they raised five children, Thomas (Val) Preston, Roberta (George Connell), Jane Preston (Alan Hipps), Lauren (Peter Gibbs) and Nancy (Theodore Wind). There was little about their home that did not express Dorothy. She poured her creativity into her flower gardens and attended to her “Victory Garden” of vegetables. She and Robert were happiest in the company of their friends and family. Her kitchen was a hearth, hosting dinners, laughter of charades with her grandchildren and the frequent hand of pitch. Many would look forward to her Christmas singalongs, always concluding with the perennial favorite, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. For Dorothy the world offered adventure. She loved history, traveling abroad and visiting museums. She was not satisfied with anything less for her children, imploring them ‘get off Steuben Hill’ to see the world. She is survived by her children, Roberta, Jane and Nancy; as well as grandchildren, Megan, Preston and Lauren Connell, Jacob and Robert Hipps, Thomas and Louise Gibbs and Dimitri Wind. She is also the great- grandmother to Mia and Jackson Kegel, Rhys and Lainey Connell, Ellie Castellano and Audrey and Gabriel Hipps. She is also survived by a sister, Emma Hart; and is predeceased by her sisters, Helen and Elsie, and brother, Clarence. There will be no calling hours, but a Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 26, 2022, at St. Francis de Sales Church, North Bellinger Street, in Herkimer, NY. Burial will follow immediately at Lee Valley Cemetery in Lee Valley, NY. Dorothy requested any donations made in her memory be made to Meals on Wheels, Herkimer County Office for the Aging, 109 Mary Street, Suite 1101, Herkimer, NY 13350. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 North Washington Street, in Herkimer, New York. Anyone wishing to view Dorothy’s beautiful online memorial tribute are welcome to visit www.eneafamily.com on the Internet. Enea, Ciaccia, and Applegate Funeral Directors (315) 866-1011.