Obituary of Dorothy M. Lavan

Dorothy M. Lavan, age 84, of Lansdale, PA passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2020.

She was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 5, 1936, the daughter of the late Joseph and Agnes (Egner) Gramlich.

Before moving to Elm Terrace Gardens in Lansdale, Dot lived in Lafayette Hill for 53 years.  She was a member of St. Philip Neri RC Church.  

For 62 years, she was the beloved wife of Edmund C. Lavan of Lansdale, by whom she is survived.

She is also survived by her son, Thomas (& Vibeke) Lavan of Lehighton; four daughters, Cheryl (& David) Luxton of Flourtown, Dotti Snyder of Wyndmoor, Lisa Lavan of Hatfield, and Patti (& Matthew) Taylor of Harleysville; and brother, Joseph Gramlich.  Dot is also survived by seven grandchildren, Chase Luxton, Arianna Lavan, Joshua Lavan, Daniel Lavan, Sarah Lavan, Jordan Lavan, and Paige Taylor. 

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Cole Luxton; and brother, Bernard Gramlich.  

Dot worked for Bell Telephone and also worked as a Bank Teller.  She was a Girl Scout Leader for all of her daughters.  She enjoyed and taught ceramics.  Dot loved to spend time with her family and friends, especially summers and many weekends spent at their shore house in Mystic Island, NJ, as well as taking cruises and other vacations.  

But all that aside, who really was Dot or Dotti, or who her kids knew as Mom and her nieces and nephews knew as Aunt Dotti?  She was beautiful, elegant, well-spoken, a tough cookie but with a great sense of humor (occasionally threatening kids and grandkids with a twinkle in her eye when they got out of line to beat them with a stick with a nail in the end), someone who could laugh at herself and often did, was 5’1” and a ¼” tall (and don’t you forget the ¼”!), could sit in the sun and never burn, had perfect hand-writing and was in fact the self-described Supermom (cape and all!) in raising 5 kids along with managing Eddie/Dad and her household through good and challenging times.  In her last years, after she moved to Elm Terrace Gardens, she continued to charm all those who met and got to know her.  We encourage all who knew her to think fondly of her and remember all the good times and her wonderful smile.

Dot’s Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 10:30 AM from St. Philip Neri RC Church, 437 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444.  Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing on Wednesday morning from 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM at the Church.  

Interment will take place in St. Matthew's Cemetery, Conshohocken, PA.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to: Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org or Keep On Smiling for Shane's Kindness at http://shaneskindness.com/

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 300 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA, (610) 828-0330
www.msrfh.com