Obituary for Dorothia Kathy Wise (Standley)
DOROTHIA KATHERINE (STANDLEY) WISE January 27, 1936-June 25, 2023
D. Katherine (Standley) Wise, 87, of Rochester, NH, passed away at home on June 25, 2023, after a long battle with myelofibrosis, a type of bone marrow cancer. To her family and extended family, she was lovingly known as simply “Nanny.” To friends and coworkers, she was known as “Kathy.”
Kathy was born on January 27, 1936 in Couch, Missouri to the late William and Lowell “Lola” (Pierce) Standley. After graduating high school, she became a military wife (U.S. Air Force) and had the opportunity to live all over the U.S. and in Libya. During this time, she bore 4 children: Ann, Vickie, Brian, and Mary.
When her last child began school, Kathy wanted to continue helping children learn and grow, so she began her college studies and started working in elementary school libraries and teaching. From 1975-1990, she earned 4 college degrees including an A.A. in Library Science, a B.S. in Child/Family Studies, an M.Ed. (all from the University of New Hampshire), with the final degree of MLIS from the University of Rhode Island. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
Kathy worked at Brackett Elementary School in Portsmouth, NH; Oyster River Elementary School in Durham, NH; Rochester Catholic School in Rochester, NH; Newmarket Elementary School in Newmarket, NH; Center School and Marston School in Hampton, NH. Besides her library duties, she loved teaching drama and creative writing. She was often awarded appreciation certificates by faculty/staff, was voted “best teacher” by students and even chosen as a role model, for her thoughtfulness, caring attitude, kindness and encouragement. In her free time, Kathy was an avid reader, gardener, quilter, seamstress, and chocolate connoisseur. But her favorite pastime of all was visiting with her grown children, and her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Kathy was predeceased by her husband, Clint Wise, who died in 1997; by her grandson Sam Lilley, who died in 1999; and also by her parents and siblings.
She is survived by her first daughter Ann Fieler-Lilley with husband John Lilley of Forestdale, Rhode Island and their children: Sarah Lilley with husband Luke Mitchell of Milford, CT (daughter Fern); Jessie Gallagher with husband Nick Gallagher of Plymouth, MA (children Oliver and Rory); her second daughter Vickie Fieler of Hampton, NH (daughter Amanda); her son Brian Fieler with wife Barb Fieler of Rochester NH, Brian’s son RJ Fieler of Billerica, MA; her third daughter Mary Bland of Louisa, VA, and her children: Darren Getts with wife Jeongeun Getts of Fredericksburg, VA (children Amalie and Caelen); Ann Park with husband Doug Park of Orland Park, IL (children Bethaney, James, Peter, and Stephen); and Matthew Getts with wife Doyon Getts currently stationed in South Korea (children Henry and Calib).
Cremation was performed by Purdy Funeral Service of Dover, NH. At Kathy’s request, there was no funeral service, and her cremains will be buried next to her husband Clint Wise’s grave at a later date.
A celebration of Kathy’s life was held on Monday, July 3, 2023 with her family.
She will be dearly and sorely missed!
D. Katherine (Standley) Wise, 87, of Rochester, NH, passed away at home on June 25, 2023, after a long battle with myelofibrosis, a type of bone marrow cancer. To her family and extended family, she was lovingly known as simply “Nanny.” To friends and coworkers, she was known as “Kathy.”
Kathy was born on January 27, 1936 in Couch, Missouri to the late William and Lowell “Lola” (Pierce) Standley. After graduating high school, she became a military wife (U.S. Air Force) and had the opportunity to live all over the U.S. and in Libya. During this time, she bore 4 children: Ann, Vickie, Brian, and Mary.
When her last child began school, Kathy wanted to continue helping children learn and grow, so she began her college studies and started working in elementary school libraries and teaching. From 1975-1990, she earned 4 college degrees including an A.A. in Library Science, a B.S. in Child/Family Studies, an M.Ed. (all from the University of New Hampshire), with the final degree of MLIS from the University of Rhode Island. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
Kathy worked at Brackett Elementary School in Portsmouth, NH; Oyster River Elementary School in Durham, NH; Rochester Catholic School in Rochester, NH; Newmarket Elementary School in Newmarket, NH; Center School and Marston School in Hampton, NH. Besides her library duties, she loved teaching drama and creative writing. She was often awarded appreciation certificates by faculty/staff, was voted “best teacher” by students and even chosen as a role model, for her thoughtfulness, caring attitude, kindness and encouragement. In her free time, Kathy was an avid reader, gardener, quilter, seamstress, and chocolate connoisseur. But her favorite pastime of all was visiting with her grown children, and her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Kathy was predeceased by her husband, Clint Wise, who died in 1997; by her grandson Sam Lilley, who died in 1999; and also by her parents and siblings.
She is survived by her first daughter Ann Fieler-Lilley with husband John Lilley of Forestdale, Rhode Island and their children: Sarah Lilley with husband Luke Mitchell of Milford, CT (daughter Fern); Jessie Gallagher with husband Nick Gallagher of Plymouth, MA (children Oliver and Rory); her second daughter Vickie Fieler of Hampton, NH (daughter Amanda); her son Brian Fieler with wife Barb Fieler of Rochester NH, Brian’s son RJ Fieler of Billerica, MA; her third daughter Mary Bland of Louisa, VA, and her children: Darren Getts with wife Jeongeun Getts of Fredericksburg, VA (children Amalie and Caelen); Ann Park with husband Doug Park of Orland Park, IL (children Bethaney, James, Peter, and Stephen); and Matthew Getts with wife Doyon Getts currently stationed in South Korea (children Henry and Calib).
Cremation was performed by Purdy Funeral Service of Dover, NH. At Kathy’s request, there was no funeral service, and her cremains will be buried next to her husband Clint Wise’s grave at a later date.
A celebration of Kathy’s life was held on Monday, July 3, 2023 with her family.
She will be dearly and sorely missed!