Born in Brockton, Dotty was the daughter of the late Frank & Mary (Giovanoni) Silvia. She grew up in Middleborough, attended public schools and graduated from Middleborough High School, Class of 1963. Dorothy attended Burdett Secretarial School and then continued her education at Bridgewater State College, earning her Bachelor's Degree and graduating with high honors. She was a school teacher for the Middleborough Public Schools for over 20 years, teaching history. Dotty was instrumental in the creation of the Middleborough History Program that is currently taught in the schools. She was also a teacher for the classes in the Middleborough Night School. After a devoted and fulfilling teaching career, Dotty retired in 2002.

 

In retirement, Dorothy kept active, donating her time to various organizations; she was involved with the Middleborough Historical Association for many years, as well as the Lady's Sodality at Sacred Heart Church in Middleborough, the Cabot Club in Middleborough and was a longtime member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Family was very important to Dotty, and she doted on all family members, especially her three grandsons; and when her mother was ill, she gave endless love, attention and care to her.  

 

Dotty was very charitable, too! She gave to various charities over the years; particularly to the Pine Ridge Reservation, an Oglala Lakota Indian Reservation in South Dakota as well as to the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), an animal rescue organization located in South Yarmouth.  

 

For 57 years, Dorothy was the beloved and cherished wife of Gerald Thayer; loving mother of Jerilyn Thayer of Middleborough and Thomas Thayer & his wife Melissa of Middleborough; devoted Grammie to Jacob, Sebastian and Kaleb; and dear sister of Ronald Silvia & his wife Louise of Carver.

 

Visiting hours will be private.

 

Family and friends are invited to attend Dorothy's funeral Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Isidore Parish, Sacred Heart Church, 340 Centre Street, Middleborough, on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 10:30 AM.

 

Interment services will follow at the Central Cemetery, Centre Street, Middleborough.

 

Contributions in Dorothy's memory may be made to Middleborough Historical Association, P.O. Box 304, Middleborough, MA 02346.