Dorathea (Buchholz) D'Elia

The family of Dorathea (Buchholz) D’Elia announces her peaceful passing and celebrates her life.

Born to the late Herman and Rosel Buchholz on January 19, 1929, Dorathea “Dottie” was the youngest of three children, and was raised and educated in Springfield, MA.

During the early years of her first marriage to Arthur R. King, Jr., the couple lived in Greenfield, MA and began raising their three daughters, Carol, Sharon, and Linda. Later, the young family returned to Springfield, MA, where Dottie worked at the Longmeadow Pharmacy for 15 years. In 1959, she met and married Secondo “Corky” D’Elia, who predeceased her in 2013.

Dottie and Corky spent 20 years living in Ocala, Florida, where they both worked, traveled, and entertained family and friends. When Dottie retired from her job at Barnett Bank, the couple moved back to MA where they could spend summers at their beloved cottage on Big Pond in Otis. For many years, Dottie especially delighted in teaching all the children in the family how to fish, swim, sail, and waterski. Her heart truly lived at the lake where she took great joy in her hobbies and created gifts of oil painting, sewing, quilting, and crafting.

Dottie was a very active member of Lee Congregational Church and the Otis Council on Aging, where her close core of cherished friends were centered.

Dottie is survived by her daughters Carol Blakeslee of Lee, MA, and Linda Whitford of Chicopee, MA. She is also fondly remembered by grandchildren: Rebecca Lukaskiewicz of Palmer, MA, Scott Martinez of Columbia, SC, Brett Martinez of Easthampton, MA, David Blakeslee of Lee, MA, and Jeffrey Blakeslee of Eugene, OR.; 6 great-grandchildren, and a loving extended family of nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brother, Joseph Buchholz, sister, Rosel LaPalme, daughter, Sharon Burger, and grandson, William R. Blakeslee.

She lived a full life in which she has given and received an abundance of love. Her new journey has now begun, and her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Life for Dottie will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 2:00 at the Lee Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lee Congregational Church, Shriner’s Hospital, or any other charity of your choice, in care of the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee, MA 01238.