Dorothy Loopman Garnsey

ILION - Dorothy Loopman Garnsey (affectionately known to friends and family as “Dot”), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Little Falls Hospital, after a brief illness.


She was born in Ilion, on March 10, 1930, the daughter of Margaret Dack Loopman and George Loopman. Dot was educated in Mohawk and Ilion schools, graduating from Ilion High School, Class of 1948. She loved Mohawk and strongly identified as a “Mohican “all of her life, but was equally proud to have been selected to the IHS varsity cheerleading squad and to have raised her children and lived the remainder of her life in Ilion.


Dot attended Albany Business College, graduating in 1949. She worked at several jobs, finally landing at the New York Telephone Company where she worked as an operator until her marriage.
Dot was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, James “Mort” Garnsey, on September 20, 1952, beginning a loving union of more than 70 years, lasting until Mort’s passing in 2023.
Dot was a busy stay at home mom to five children. In her spare time, she loved puttering around her house and garden, walking, shopping (especially QVC), traveling (especially to Montana and Vermont), singing in her church choir, watching her favorite soap “The Young and the Restless,” coffee and dessert at any time and a scotch at cocktail hour. She enjoyed her life surrounded by her friends, wonderful neighbors, children, and grandchildren, great- grandchildren, spoiling her cats, and sitting on the back porch with Mort. Dot was also an iconic Avon lady. Her career selling Avon spanned nearly 50 years, ending only recently as her health and mobility declined. You didn’t meet Dot without getting an Avon book!


Dot is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret Burger and Eric Burger, of Ilion and Susan Hillyard and Richard Hillyard, of Burlington, Vermont; her son, Thomas Garnsey and daughter-in-law, Bridget Garnsey, of Bozeman, Montana; her son, Robert Garnsey, of Astoria, New York; her daughter-in-law, Georganne Garnsey, of Herkimer; and her brother, Donald Loopman, of Victor, New York. Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren: Courtney(Paul) Valasek, of Herkimer, Shannon (Phil)Buttacaroli, of Ilion, Heather (Steve)Maley, of Frankfort, Eric (Alison)Burger, of Ilion, Jeffrey(Erica) Burger, of Frankfort, Kate (Dan)Phillips, of Burlington, Vermont, Michael (Haleigh) Hillyard, of Brooklyn, New York, Chad Garnsey, of Ilion, Camille (Carson) Garnsey, of Providence, Rhode Island, and Al Garnsey and Ryan Garnsey, of Bozeman, Montana. She is also survived by her beloved great-grandchildren: David Valasek, Jenna, Olivia and Anthony Buttacaroli, Avery and Riley Maley, Madison, Ireland, and Eric Burger, Campbell and Noah Rocco and Benjamin Burger, Ellis Hillyard and William Phillips; and by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews whom she cherished.


Dot was predeceased by her parents; her beloved husband, Mort; her sister in law, Ann Noffer and brother-in-law, Leslie Noffer; her brother in law, Silas Garnsey and sister-in-law, Eleanor Garnsey; her sister-in-law, Patricia Loopman; her beloved son, James Kevin Garnsey; and her grandsons, Evan Garnsey and Nicholas Garnsey.


The family extends its gratitude to the staff of The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Ilion for their care and loving attention over the last four difficult years. We also would like to thank Dot’s many friends and neighbors who looked after her and Dad like their own. Your kindness and attention and caring is very much appreciated by all of us. Special thanks to Courtney, who always kept her laughing.


Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Monday, November 11, from 2-3 PM, at the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road, in Ilion. A memorial service will be held following calling hours at the chapel with prayer and remembrances. Interment will be at a later date.


Anyone wishing to share a memory of Dot, or add to her online memorial, may go to www.eneafamily.com


Those wishing to do so may consider a memorial donation to their favorite charity in her name. Alternatively, raise a toast to her memory at your next family gathering. She would love that.


Dot’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Enea and Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, in Frankfort, NY, Enea, Ciaccia & Applegate Funeral Directors (315) 894-8000.