Dorothea M. Engelhardt, 90, of Nissequogue, NY, passed away peacefully Sunday July 25, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on February 19, 1931 in Flushing Queens, NY, a daughter of the late Armando & Margaret (Murphy) Melendez. She had been a resident of Flushing, NY where she attended Bayside High School in NY. She moved out to Suffolk County with her late husband John P. Engelhardt to raise her family in 1963. She worked for Ivy League School in Hauppauge, NY and taught religion for over 30 years at Saint John of God Catholic Church in Central Islip, NY. She was a proud stay-at-home mom and always the life of the party. She is survived by her sister Rita Orosz of Saint James, NY; her daughter Marianne and son-in-law Richard Sassone of Nissequogue, NY; her grandson Jonathan Sassone and his wife Ashley; granddaughter Jacquelynn Sassone and her boyfriend Steve Castelli, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by 3 sisters Charlotte Levine, Theresa Klose & Margaret Ann Melendez and brother Michael Melendez. Calling hours will be held on the evening of Friday July 30, 2021 from 6- 9 P.M. in the St. James Funeral Home located at 829 Middle Country Rd. Saint James, NY 11780. A mass of Catholic burial will be celebrated on Saturday July 31, 2021 at 11:45 A.M. in Saints Philip and James Roman Catholic Church at 1 Carrow Place Saint James, NY 11780. Burial will follow at Saint Patricks Cemetery at 183 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Smithtown, NY 11787. For those in attendance, face mask usage and social distancing are recommended.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.