Doris A. Schnippert

Schnippert, Doris A.

Doris Adel “Dori” Schnippert, 83, of Pembroke, MA, died unexpectedly on Monday,

January 30 th . Dori passed away peacefully in her sleep in her favorite chair at her

“grandma cottage” on the shores of beautiful Little Sandy Bottom Pond in Pembroke.

Dori was born December 2, 1939 in Greensburg, PA to Raymond McCrea Glenn and

Iva Myrtle Egner Glenn. She graduated from Ligonier Valley High School in 1958 and

enrolled in Clarion State College. She completed her BS in Education degree in 1962.

After graduation she moved to the Virgin Islands with her college roommate, Marty,

and taught elementary school for three years. Next she moved to New York City,

taking a job with Macy’s to work the Maybelline counter before returning to

teaching.

While visiting a park pool in Youngwood, PA one summer day, she met Bill

Schnippert, a lifeguard on his college break. The attraction was instantaneous and

lifelong.

Bill and Dori traveled back and forth by bus to see each other while she was living in

New York City and teaching in East Orange, NJ. Bill hitchhiked to NYC the night of

May 21, 1965, and on her doorstep presented Dori an engagement ring. They

married the next day.

Following a thrilling night at The Four Seasons Restaurant to celebrate the wedding,

the couple moved to Coconut Grove, FL where Bill took a job at a boys’ school while

Dori taught third grade. After the birth of their first daughter Kirsten in 1968, Bill

and Dori moved to Farmington, CT, where she co-founded The Early Learning

Center of Miss Porter’s School with Carol White. In addition to filling an educational

need in the community, the Center served as an unofficial market research

incubator for Creative Playthings, where Dori’s beloved brother Roland was a

director. Dori’s brainchild and proudest feature of the Center was the “Sand Room,”

a classroom filled wall-to-wall with sand that successfully addressed the sensory

integration needs of pre-k students.

A second daughter, Gretchen, was born in 1970. It was in Farmington where they

made some of their closest lifelong friends, all raising their families together. Along

the way, Bill and Dori always seemed to have an extra student, or friend in need

living with them. Dori would envelop everyone like family - a trait that would bring

many into her circle for life.

In 1977 they started their homesteading/farming life in Covington, PA. Their third

daughter Meaghen was born there in 1979. It was during this time that Dori started

Whortleberry Studios, launching her career as a watercolorist while working days

as the curator of the Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center in Wellsboro. On the farm she

tore a page out of Bill’s philosophy book, and she insisted on exploring every aspect

of homesteading. Dori endeavored to raise all sorts of foul - chickens, geese, ducks.

At the dinner table she even pedaled homemade ketchup as the condiment du jour

much to the chagrin of her daughters. During the Covington Chapter, she also took

graduate courses at Mansfield University and was a volunteer leader of the local Le

Leche League.

In 1984 the couple found another property to make into a homesteading paradise

and moved to Pine City, NY to be closer to Bill’s teaching position at Elmira College.

Dori embarked on a 20-year career teaching studio art at Notre Dame High School.

She completed her MS in education in 1988 at Elmira College. In the 1990s

Dragonfly Nursery was born, and Dori and Bill became fixtures at the Ithaca

Farmers Market, selling medieval roses, herbs, perennials, and more. Upon

retirement in 2004, Dori decided she was not busy enough and started Pie Pie Me

Oh My, a custom order homemade pie business that joined Dragonfly as a mainstay

at the Market, where Dori’s pies sold out nearly every Saturday.

Bill and Dori were proud to say they married six times, renewing their vows every

ten years as witnessed by their community of family and friends. The “weddings”

took place in New York City, Glastonbury CT, Covington PA, and three times at their

home in Pine City, NY (the art studio, herb garden and pasture). No one would be

surprised to find them holding hands, dancing together when there was no music, or

sharing a dark beer in a dark bar. Their relationship was built on humor and

unconditional love.

Like the artist she was, she created a beautiful scene for the last chapter of her life.

While visiting daughter Meaghen in Massachusetts, she found her cottage home on

the water in Pembroke. She was at peace while watching the swans and ducks,

people fishing and swimming, and painting beautiful watercolor treasures that

would arrive in the mailboxes of family and friends.

In addition to all of her talents, Dori will also always be remembered as a tireless

cook. Her Pine City kitchen, affectionately known as “The L,” was the site of

countless dinner parties and family gatherings. If it was six people, she’d cook for 10.

If it was 10, she’d cook for 20. Her “Paris Bistro” apron was seemingly always

on, even when sitting around the Thanksgiving table after the last desserts had been

served. “If you go hungry, it’s your own damn fault,” she would often say.

Dori is survived by daughters, Kirsten Adel (Hal) Burrall of Geneva, NY, Gretchen

Ann (Doug) Jacobs of Horseheads, NY; Meaghen Erin Schnippert of East

Bridgewater, MA. Grandchildren, Mallory, Abby, Penn and Mitchell Burrall, Zane and

Brody Jacobs, Llewellyn, Lillyan and Rayven Gaffney. Sisters-in-law, Dorothy “Dot”

Hamilton of Greensburg, PA; Carol “Cookie” Critchley of Lewisburg, PA; Patricia

“Pat” Stewart (Anthony Esposito), and several nieces and nephews.

Dori was predeceased by husband Bill, brother Roland “Rollie” Glenn, sister-in-law

Carol Taylor Glenn, and brother-in-law Dave Hamilton.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday February 18 th from 1-4pm at Olthof’s Funeral

Home, Elmira, NY. A Celebration of Dori’s life will be held in Pembroke in warmer

weather. Memorial contributions can be made to Pembroke Firehouse Pantry, P.O

Box 135, Bryantville, MA 02327.