Dorothy Batz Hagenbuch died December 29, 2022 from pancreatic cancer after a meaningful Christmas with immediate family. She passed peacefully days after choosing to be in church on Christmas day.
Born in Philadelphia, Dorothy is the daughter of the late Raymond Batz and Florence Batz. She was a graduate of Trenton High School and Mercer Hospital County School of Nursing. She was employed at the Montrose County Hospital, the Mountain View School District, and Jeffers Farms before retirement. She worked side by side with her husband at Jeffers Farms, prior to his premature death, managing the sales, receipts and expenses. She was a board member of the Jeffers Farms and served as an officer for many years. She volunteered with the First Congregational Church of Harford, including the position of Treasurer, and also in its Willing Workers group. Dorothy was a past member of the Harford Volunteer Fire Company and an EMT with the Harford Volunteer Ambulance Company. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association. Throughout her life, she practiced her vocation of nursing, even serving as an expert to her children and grandchildren.
Dorothy is predeceased by her husband, William “Butch” Hagenbuch, and her grandson, Adam Frankel. Survivors include her children, Donna, William and Robert, her daughter’s partner, Todd Shapiro, and Robert’s wife, Mary Kaye. She leaves behind her grandchildren, Amanda, Wendy, Mia, daughters of Donna and Jonathan Frankel, Samuel and Stephen, sons of Robert and Mary Kaye, and Taven, Sereena, Emma, Anna and Michael, sons and daughters of Will. She also leaves behind Will’s foster baby, Craiger. Included in Dorothy’s survivors are her brother, Raymond Batz, and his wife June, of Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey, and wonderful nieces and nephews who filled Dorothy’s heart with joy. In addition to family, Dorothy will be missed by many MVHS colleagues and students who knew Mrs. Hagenbuch in the nurse’s office.
Dorothy (or Dottie as she was often called) had many iconic sayings including “Do it now, then it’s done” and “If you’re thirsty drink water.” She faithfully cheered on Penn State football with Butch, a PSU grad. She continued to love the Lions beyond Butch’s death, and even named one of her dogs Nittany. Voted homemaker of the year in 1959, she was known for a cheesecake and a potato salad. Dorothy had a green thumb, particularly with houseplants. She loved working with numbers and people. She would pull out her sewing machine or kit in an instant, and travel even at a distance when she was called. She was an avid novel reader, diary keeper, and she was devoted to her daily newspaper.
She was immeasurably proud of her children. She cherished their accomplishments and was present to every milestone in their lives. Dottie also delighted in a visit or phone call from her nieces and nephews, and, of course, her tremendous friends and neighbors.1