Dorothy Spencer, 88, much beloved Mother of daughters Janet McCoy, & Wendy D'Agostino, and sister of Margaret Pogmore, died peacefully November 11 2013 under the care of the dedicated staff at Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island. She lived a full and giving life.
Born in England, Dorothy was the daughter of the late Emma & Henry Lacey. In 1948, she and her husband, Geoffrey Spencer, moved to Toronto Canada. They had little money but, through hard work and tight budgeting, they saved enough to buy a house and 1 1/2 acres of land. The house was in disrepair and required rebuilding. Money was tight, so together, with no past experience, but a great deal of British determination, they shingled the roof; poured cement; lay in a long driveway; fixed the plumbing and wiring; etc. Through all this Dorothy, who had suffered two miscarriages, was pregnant. At the end of her pregnancy, she gave birth to their first daughter.
Dorothy, who had studied theatre while in England, became a member of a small theater company. She started small, sewing costumes and acting in bit parts. Dorothy’s involvement the theatre grew as she began not only acting but also in producing plays. She produced two years of Summer Stock and several years at the Poor Alex Theatre in Toronto, hiring women for all key positions. All of Dorothy’s hard work and dedication was rewarded. At the Dominion Drama Festival, the play, “A Taste of Honey”, won four, out of five, acting awards. Dorothy won, not only the award for Best Supporting Actress, but she also won the award of Best Production and she managed this using the resources of a small theatre group (of which she was both President and Treasurer), attached to the local YMCA.
Dorothy was always an active member of the community. She sang with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra for almost 27 years; was a Docent at Roger Williams Park Zoo for 17 years; read to the blind at Insight Radio; and spent her Friday afternoons at the Mathewson Church soup kitchen. Dorothy also volunteered at Trinity Rep, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and The Providence Preservation Society. She spent many evenings knitting hats for new born babies and scarves for the homeless.
As busy as she was, Dorothy always made time for close friends; Brenda, Janice, Ellen and “The English Ladies”. We would like to thank them for their support over the past year.
Dorothy also leaves behind three grandchildren: Rebecca D'Agostino, Sarah Hamm, and Gary Spencer, as well as three great grandchildren: Thomas D'Agostino, Marissa D'Agostino, and Owen Hamm.
Private funeral services were held.