Sandhills_Sentinel

Dorothy Nancy (Reinhard Carmody) Sechrist, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away November 9th after a brief illness. Born October 11, 1937 to Harry and Martha (Kruck) Trotter, Dottie just celebrated her 81st birthday. Growing up in West Orange, NJ, music was always a passion for Dottie. She could hold an entire conversation while playing the piano, never once looking at the keys. She graduated in three years from Northwestern University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in Musical Education and a minor in English. Dottie settled in Spring Lake in 1967 and was a hard-working, admired member of the community. She was the Vocal and Instrumental Music Teacher at H.W. Mountz Elementary School in Spring Lake, NJ for 23 years where she taught thousands of students how to play a musical instrument. Dottie also was a regular piano player in the summers at the E&S Hotel. She was a fun and loving mother who made every holiday magical. In the 1970s she revitalized the theater program at the Spring Lake Community House by putting on huge musical productions (Oklahoma!, Bye Bye Birdie, Lil’ Abner) using only town residents. Her cast parties on Sussex Avenue were legendary. Dottie retired to Pinehurst, NC where she met the love of her life, David “Edd” Sechrist. Dottie and Edd were blessed with 19 of the happiest years of their lives. Dottie loved Broadway musicals, snow, a warm fire, a game of bridge, the Hallmark Channel, the word jumble, a sweet Rob Roy on the rocks, her children and her church – and her Swedish meatballs were to die for. 

Dottie was predeceased by her husband David “Edd” Sechrist in 2016 and her sister Joann Robinson in 2007.

Dottie is survived by her daughter, Cindy Bondio and her husband, John, of Fort Mill, SC, sons Clark Reinhard and his wife, Nancy, of Westfield, NJ, and Bill Reinhard and his wife, Christina, of Manasquan Park. She leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Andrea Wiley and husband, Ryan, Bryan Bondio, Taylor Reinhard Kelly and husband, Ronnie, Abby Reinhard, Jack Reinhard, Kevin Reinhard, Bridget Reinhard, Grace Reinhard, and Billy Reinhard.

Services will be private in Pinehurst, NC.

Sweet dreams be yours dear, if dreams there be. Sweet dreams to carry you close to me. I wish I may and I wish I might, now goodnight, my someone good

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines, NC.

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Dorothy Ann Sechrist, please visit Boles’ Tribute Store.

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