Dorothy Joan Nezzer

On Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m., we said goodnight to Dorothy Joan Nezzer. At 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 21, we said goodbye. In that span of 12 hours, Dorothy's 78 years here with us ended with a quiet, peaceful final breath. Her life began April 17, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. Father and Mother were Tommy and Julia Brennan. Her brother, younger by 24 months, was Ed. An Irish Catholic lass with hair the color of Maureen Ohara's, "Dot" grew up with Ed and her cousin Anne Eccles. In 1957, following the Brooklyn Dodgers' unimaginable move west, the Brennan family made an unimaginable move from New York to Gallup, N.M. It was in Gallup that young Dorothy caught the eye of one C. Woodrow Nezzer, a successful Gallup businessman. Against all odds for the time and place, they survived a 16-year difference in age. They survived "Woody's" life-long suffering with polio. They survived a difference in ethnic backgrounds and religions. They married, settled and began a family. Woody and Dorothy's first son was Richard. Eleven months later, their second son, Robert, was born. Their beautiful daughter Julianne (named for both of her grandmothers) was born in 1965 and youngest son Michael James was born in 1968. While raising a family in the 60s, Dorothy began her 50-year membership in Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She was a member of Catholic Daughters and sang in the church choir at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. For her children, she was a PTA mom, a sports mom and a boy/girl scouts mom. And she never missed Sunday mass. With Woody, Dorothy worked at Gallup Title Company. Their children grew and graduated. A beautiful granddaughter, Sarah, was born in 1984. Then in 1985 her world changed when her beloved Woody was the first to say goodbye. With an amazing inner strength, Dorothy stayed busy in Gallup and eventually moved to Las Cruces, N.M., in time for the birth of grandson Vincent. Two years later, granddaughter Monica graced her life. Later in Austin, Texas, Rachel and Rebecca were born and "Grammy Dot" moved on in her life as the proud grandmother of five Nezzer grandchildren. In recent years Dorothy enjoyed an active and busy life filled with sorority, traveling with her brother Ed, weekly canasta games and every Broadway road production that stopped in Albuquerque, El Paso, Phoenix or Tucson. Her life was changed in 2011 when Ed said goodbye. Things were never the same. In 2012, Parkinson's was diagnosed and a rapid decline followed. She is survived by Anne Eccles and Elsa Swyers of Tucson, Rick Nezzer and wife Lenore, of Las Cruces, Robert Nezzer and wife Linda of Cedar Crest, N.M., Julianne and husband Dr. Lane Bauer of Las Cruces and Michael Nezzer and wife Alice of Austin, Texas and her trusted canine companion, Jemma. Sarah, Vince, Monica, Rachel and Rebecca will miss their Grammy Dot. A memorial service is planned for Jan. 18, 2013 at 10 a.m. at Getz Funeral Home. The family extends our gratitude to Jill Shannon and the staff at Casa Bella for Dorothy's final days. In lieu of flowers, please share your love of Dorothy with donations to Mesilla Valley Hospice or Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley. PDF Printable Version