Obituary of Dorothy Ackerman

Dorothy H. Ackerman, 82, of Freehold Township died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 2, 2016. Dot was born and raised in Plainfield, and lived in Hillside before moving to Freehold Township in 1965. There are many words to describe her which include independent, opinionated, strong-willed, intelligent and hard-working, as well as caring, supportive, generous, fun-loving and adventurous. Dot was a loving daughter, dedicated nurse, devoted wife, dear friend, loving mother and adoring grandmother. After graduating from Jersey City Medical Center Nursing School, she began a career as a registered nurse, and years later she and her husband established D & J Flower Express, Freehold. A parishioner of the Church of St. Veronica, she was a communicant, a member of the bereavement ministry, a Eucharistic minister and a member of the Prayer Shawl Group. As a senior citizen, she went back to college just for the love of education, and became an ESL Aide. Dot loved to travel, play bridge and canasta, and to support the arts. Her favorite color is blue and she asked that people wear blue to her services if possible. She was predeceased by her husband, James Ackerman, in 1998. Dot is survived by her children, Dorrie Skinner of Knoxville, TN, Jim Ackerman and his wife, Renee, of Warnerville, NY, and Betsy Afonso and her husband, Steve, of Parlin, NJ; grandchildren, Chip Skinner, Emily Ackerman, Erika Ackerman, Christian Ackerman, Carrie Ackerman, Katelyn Afonso and Marisa Afonso; and many friends and extended family. Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Sunday, July 10, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 11, 2016 at the funeral home for the procession to her 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at the Church of St. Veronica, 4215 Route 9 North, Howell. Interment will follow at Brigadier General Wm. C. Doyle NJ Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com