Obituary of Dorothy F Lutz

Dorothy Florence Lutz (nee Mack) passed away peacefully at her Bernardsville home on Sunday, October 14, 2012. She was 86 years old. Visitation will take place on Sunday, October 21 from 1-4pm at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 111 Claremont Road, Bernardsville, NJ on Monday, October 22 at 10am. Burial will be private. Dorothy was born on August 18, 1926 in Elizabeth, NJ to Anthony and Catherine Mack. She attended Battin High School continuing on to New York University, Bellevue Schools of Nursing, graduating in 1946 as a registered nurse. In 1950, she married Dr. Joseph Francis Lutz, who pre-deceased her in September 2002, with whom she had five children. Always involved in every aspect of her children's lives, she was president of the mother's auxiliary at Newark Academy, chaired numerous committees at Oak Knoll School and was an integral part of many other activities within the community as well as the Junior Essex Troop in West Orange, NJ. She loved animals, particularly horses, and after her many years of dedication to proudly raising her children, she and her family moved from Livingston to a horse farm in Washington Valley, Morris Township where she was able to live out a lifelong dream of breeding and raising thoroughbreds, a few of which made it to the winner's circle at Monmouth Park. Never one to be idle, she continued to develop new interests in her later years and was an avid reader. She especially delighted in being the perfect "Grammie" to her 13 grandchildren and cherished each and every moment she spent with them. A deeply spiritual woman, she was admired by all who knew her and was a true inspiration to young and old alike. She will be missed by all of us whose life she touched in such a positive way. She is survived by her children Dr. Joseph Sebastian and his wife Dr. Andrea Gaito of Basking Ridge, Catherine Lutz-Vogt and her husband John of Mendham Township, Dr. Philip Edward and his wife Joanne of North Caldwell, Victor Joseph and his wife Heidi of Madison, Edward Charles and his wife Laurie of Mendham Township and her 13 grandchildren: Esme, Dorothy, Sebastian, Jaclyn, Natalie, Victoria, Philip, Caitlin, Griffin, Ryan, Slade, Allie and Pierce. We also would like to give special thanks from our family to Rums, Dorothy's loving caregiver for the past four years. Rums' caring and thoughtful nature ensured our mother's dignity and comfort was maintained during her final years. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Birth Haven, 4 Academy Street, Newton, NJ 07860 would be greatly appreciated.