Doroth Lyons , January 13, 1919 — December 31, 2018

Dorothy Margaret Lyons of Mahwah passed away peacefully on December 31, 2018, at the age of 99. Born January 13, 1919, in Durban, South Africa, Dorothy was a wife, mother, and homemaker who lived in Zimbabwe before emigrating to the United States, where she made her home in Summit and Short Hills, NJ, for 40 years, and in Mahwah since 2004. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, James Henry Lyons, in 2001, and by her son, James Douglas Lyons, in 1999.

She is survived by her children, Moira Sodano of Budd Lake, NJ, Pamela Ciofalo and her husband, Thomas, of Mahwah, and her daughter-in-law, Suzanne Lyons, of Wake Forest, NC, as well as her beloved grandchildren, Angelica Ciofalo of Mahwah, David Lyons and his wife, Amy, of Newton, MA, Susan Sodano and her husband, Leon Trachtenberg, of Succasunna, NJ, Alyson Timko and her husband, Thomas, of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and Nicolas Lyons of Oxford, NJ. She was a proud great grandmother to nine wonderful great grandchildren, Ava, Chloe, and Jake Lyons; Peter, Anna, Nicholas, and Julia Timko; and James and Raeann Lyons. Dorothy’s husband, James, was General Manager of Standard Chartered Bank, New York, for 14 years, and during that time, the couple entertained many visitors from London, Africa, and Asia, at events in New York City and at their home in Short Hills.

They also had a number of opportunities to travel internationally. As a member of the Daughters of the British Empire, Dorothy helped raise funds to support the Victoria Nursing Home in Ossining, NY. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing golf and working in her garden.

When James became ill with Parkinson’s disease, Dorothy devoted herself to caring for him at home until his death. In her later years, she enjoyed theater, reading, and spending time with her family whenever possible. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 from 2-4 PM with a service being conducted at 3:30 PM at the Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey.

Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation, www. parkinson.org, or to the ASPCA, aspca.org.

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