Peabody - Dorothy S. von Rosenvinge, 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 17’th at her home following a brief illness.

Born in Boston, Dorsy was the daughter of the late James and Dorothy (Collins) Sullivan. Dorsy grew up in West Roxbury. She attended Girl’s Latin and Smith College where she graduated in 1955. She later continued her education at Harvard University completing a Masters in Education in 1977.

Dorsy lived on Beacon Hill in Boston after her marriage to John Ryan. They raised their three children (Michael, Stephen & Megan) there before she moved to Annisquam in Gloucester where she was active in the village activities and was a member of the Annisquam Yacht Club. There she met her husband, the late William “Bill” von Rosenvinge. After a few years they moved to Ipswich and then to Brooksby Village in Peabody.

Dorsy was a teacher at heart. She specialized in reading and was an early advocate of programs to teach reading skills to children with dyslexia. She co-founded the LAD (Language Advantage at Dexter) program where she taught for several years. She taught in the Winthrop school system as well as teaching reading in Reading. Later she volunteered as a reading specialist at the Doyon School in Ipswich. She was passionate about helping others get a start with English as a second language.

She loved walks on Cranes Beach with her friends, cheering on her grandchildren from the sidelines, playing tennis in mother-daughter tournaments in Annisquam and knitting blankets with her friends at the Ipswich Country Club for donation to charities in Boston and South Africa. She cherished her travels to Ireland, South Africa and her visits to Park City, UT and Moosehead Lake.

A loving wife, mother and grandmother, Dorsy leaves her son, Michael and Pamela, her son, Fr. Stephen Ryan O.P. and her daughter, Megan and Brad Boozier. She adored her grandchildren, Rebecca Williamson, Matthew, Emily and Kendyl Boozier of Park City, UT. She was predeceased by her younger brother James.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, 12 Park St., Topsfield, MA on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. The burial at Mt Adnah Cemetery in Annisquam will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Open Door, 28 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01938.