SALEM - Dorothy G. (Dearden) Wilkins, 95, wife of the late Earl A. Wilkins, died Sunday, December 2, 2007 at the Golden Life Center, Melrose.
Born and raised in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Robert & Harriet (Knight) Dearden.
Prior to her retirement in 1970, she was employed by the New England Telephone Company for 43 years, working as an operator and later moving to a clerical position. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers.
She resided in Beverly form 1943 to 1957 where she was a member of the Catholic Daughters Guild, then moved back to Salem, where she lived until moving to Wakefield in 1983. She has been a resident of Melrose since 1990.
Dorothy is survived by a son, Gordon Wilkins of Fullerton, CA, several grandchildren including David Wilkins of Franklin, MA and Scott Wilkins of Sandown, NH, several nieces and nephews including Patricia Mercer of Punta Gorda, FL, several great-grandchildren and grand nieces and grand nephews including Richard Landers of Punta Gorda, FL. She was the mother of the late Donald Wilkins and sister of the late Esther Rafferty.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 11 am at the Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd., Salem. A visitation will be held Friday morning from 9 to 10:30 am at the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Burial is in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Resident Council Fund, c/o Golden Living Center, 40 Martin Street, Melrose MA 02176. For guest book and directions, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.