Obituary of Dorothy Kobin

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Dorothy (Serratelli) Kobin on December 26, 2023, with children at her side.  She was 88 years old.  Dorothy was known as “Dot” to her friends, and “Aunt Ducky” to her extended family.

Dot was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Arthur Kobin, in 2011.  She is also predeceased by her brother Sonny Serratelli and sister Marie Klimchock.  She will be missed every day by her 5 children, Arthur (wife Machteld), Robert (wife Theresa), Richard (wife Susan), Patricia (husband Ralph Dunhamn), and Tom (wife Lisa).  She is further survived by 10 grandchildren, Katrina, Arthur, Douglas, Athena, Andreana, Ashley, Ryan, Timothy, Caroline and Michael, and 6 great-grandchildren, Mason, Nora, Aubrey, Thalia, Chrystopher, and Georgia.  She is also survived by nephews and a niece.

Dot was born to Tommy and Margaret Serratelli on September 24, 1935, in the Down Neck section of Newark, and grew up there and in Hillside. Dot came from a humble family, and never wavered from the values she learned from this background.

Dot went to Hillside High School, where she became captain of the cheerleading squad. Through her best friend in high school, Joan Kobin (Hyde), she met her future husband Arthur, and they were married on May 7, 1955.  She and Arthur raised their family in Denville, and then Mendham.  Dot lived for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  There is nothing she would not do for them.  Her biggest pride and joy in life was her large family and she constantly worried about each of them as well as every person she loved.

While Dot was a loving mother and wife, she packed an equally tough personality into her under 5-foot frame.  Dot was never afraid to speak her mind, and she backed down from no one.

In her younger years Dot spent her time attending an untold number of sports events for her children.  She worked tirelessly in the family’s enormous garden, she canned and froze foods from the garden, and she sewed and tailored clothes for herself and her family.  Dot was an amazing cook, and got plenty of practice cooking constantly for her large family.   Later, she became a voracious reader and loved knitting blankets for family and friends.  She also loved being at her condo in Florida, especially when her children and grandchildren could be there with her.   She also enjoyed her many good times with dear friends that she and Arthur met through the years.  Dot was also privately a very faithful person, and we know God will welcome her into his arms.

Visitation will be held December 30, 2023, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Rd., Mendham, NJ.  There will be a funeral mass for extended family at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Church, 8 West Main St., Mendham.  Donations in Dot's memory may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.