Dorothea M. Kasha

Dorothea M. Kasha, 90, beloved wife of Bernard Kasha, passed away peacefully on Sunday August 8, 2021 at her home in St. Johnsville, NY, with her devoted family by her side.

Dorothea was born on Staten Island, NY on August 3, 1931.  She was the only child of Joseph and Anna (Elko) Cortelyou. She graduated from Port Richmond High School on Staten Island, and became a medical stenographer at St. Vincent’s Hospital.  Dorothea, affectionally known as Dot, met the love of her life as a passenger on a ferry boat skippered by Bernie Kasha.  The ferry ran from Staten Island to Carteret, NJ, which was Bernie’s hometown.  It was just the beginnings of their travels through life together.  When Bernie got his draft notice from the U.S. Army, they decided to get married before he deployed a couple of weeks later.  Dot was just 19 years old , but it was a marriage lasting 71 amazing years.

Dot was the devoted mother of 5 wonderful children: Joanne Taylor of Port Tobacco, MD; Debra Peters and her husband Frederic of Swanzey, NH;  Nancy Downing and her partner Shane of St. Johnsville, NY; and Carol Ciallella and her husband Kenneth of Sunbury, OH.  Dot was predecessed by her son Richard Kasha (and his wife Mona Lisa), a U.S. Army Warrant Officer, in a helicopter accident at age 24.   Dot’s grand children include: James Taylor (and his wife Sabrina);  Jay Taylor (and his wife Shelby);  Rebecca (Peters) Ezequelle (and her husband Jeff);  Jonathan Peters (and his wife Jessica);  Dawn (Downing) Dinca (and her husband Lawrence); and Kenneth Ciallella, Jr..  Her great-grand children include: Elizabeth and Rachel Taylor;  Chloe, Jay Ryan and Halle Taylor;  Brynleigh and Kalea Ezequelle; Addison and Hailey Peters; and Dorothea Dinca.

Dot loved to travel!  Whether it be with the whole family packed in the Chevy station wagon, or on one of the many motorboats or sailboats that Bernie had built, they enjoyed the vast array of sites and National Parks that the United States had to offer.  The Canadian waterways were fun to travel by boat.  Cruising to Hawaii and Alaska, and riding motorcycles, came after the children left home.  Their 40 foot motor home became their residence for awhile, and allowed them longer stays wherever they chose, making life-long friends along the way.

Dot and Bernie resided with daughter Nancy in her St. Johnsville, NY home for the past 7 years.  Dot slowly entered into the abyss of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s Disease during the past few years. Bernie was devoted to her until the moment she passed.  Dot and Bernie fell in love 71 years ago. They took an amazing journey through life together.  She will live on in all our hearts forever.

There will be no formal service at this time.  Just enjoy the memories you have of Dot, and they will bring her smile back into your heart!

Arrangements are under the caring guidance of the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, (next to the Masonic Lodge), 20 Bridge St., St. Johnsville, NY.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.