Dorothea (Dotti) B. McNichol, 95, (aka:  Abigail, Mam, Muzzy, Dot, Dotster, Grammy, Grammy- Dog, Big Dot) passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at her daughter's home in Conestoga, PA. She was born June 3, 1930, in Steelton, PA to the late Samuel G. Breckenridge & Dorthea H. Breckenridge.  She was an only child.

Dotti grew up in Steelton, PA and graduated from Steel High in 1948.  She went on to attend Temple University where she graduated with BS in Education and more importantly, met the love of her life James J. McNichol (aka:  Jimmy Nichol.)  They were married on April 29, 1955.

They moved to Wilmington, Delaware to start and raise a family.  Dotti stayed in Wilmington until 2013 even after Jimmy "Nichols" death in 2005.  Her time in Wilmington was spent not only raising 4 children but working at multiple area schools as a physical education teacher.  Included with this was many years of volunteering and teaching at various swim clubs. She remained a volunteer swimming instructor at Frames Boys Swim Club into her 70's.  She volunteered at Delaware Special Olympics and also traveled with the team to participate in the Salt Lake City, Utah games.

In 2013 Dotti returned to her roots in South Central Pennsylvania, more specifically Pine Grove Furnace State Park area.  Pine Grove Furnace held many memories for Dotti.  At the age of 14 (1944), her parents purchased a log cabin in Michaux State Forest.  It was there she spent her early years lifeguarding at Fuller Lake, dancing on the porch at the General Store, & hiking the Pole Steeple trail.  She shared this amazing place with her husband and her children (Dutch, Kate, Luke, and JB.)  Every summer was spent at the cabin celebrating family, birthdays, parties, midnight hikes, catching crayfish in the creeks, and swimming at Fuller Lake.  Many summers were also spent running the concession stands at Laurel and Fullers Lakes, where family and many local children were expected to all pitch in to help.

Dotti had a love of cards, especially Bridge and was a Life Master.  She was not one to pass up on an opportunity to stop at a Goodwill, Thrift Shop or secondhand store for some kind of deal.  She also loved her beach trips to Stone Harbor and Florida, as well as baking, traveling, making "Dots Hot" mustard, sewing, watching sports, feeding the mountain critters especially the hummingbirds and songbirds and volunteering at places such as the Pine Grove Furnace Fall Fest.  Many of her birthdays were spent swimming laps in Fuller Lake and she even swam most recently for her 95th birthday!

She never met a dog that did not love her unconditionally and to the extreme.  Anyone who took a dog there knows how much they liked to go visit for the love and the treats.

Those who were blessed to know her would describe her as a patriot, fiercely independent, feisty, non-filtered, assertive, strong willed, determined, competitive, loyal, compassionate, generous, welcoming, and bold.  Dotti has made all our lives much richer and will be greatly missed by many people and a lot of dogs.

Dotti leaves her four children and spouses (Dutch/Jim, Kate/John, Luke/Nikkii, JB/Gena) and her 5 grandchildren (Daniel, Kacie, Robert, Maddie and Bryce) as well as 4 great grandchildren with another on the way to carry on her love of life and spirit.

Dotti's Celebration of Life will be held at Ewing Brothers Funeral Home on Saturday, December 20, 2025, starting with a visitation at 1pm followed by Celebration of Life until 3pm.  At a later date to be determined, there will also be a graveside service at the Delaware Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Bear, DE where she will be reunited with Jimmy Nichol in interment.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Friends of Pine Grove Furnace State Park, https://ppff.app.neoncrm.com/forms/pine-grove-friends.

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