Dorothy Acciai, of Blacksburg, passed peacefully Oct. 26, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1931. Her parents returned to Western Pennsylvania where Dorothy attended West Alexander High School and California Teachers College.
Dody married Deno Acciai in 1955 and taught at West Deer School District. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and chaired the guidance department at Highlands High School.
Her devotion to her family was unwavering, her pride in her husband, daughter, son, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and grandsons was constant. Her hobbies included quilting and sewing, painting, flower gardening and arranging. She enjoyed museum and art gallery visits and travel. Dody and Deno traveled extensively and wintered in Florida for more than a decade.
After caring for Deno through a long illness, he died in 2008. In addition to her parents (Lois and Fred McAdoo) and sister (Neva McAdoo Jones), She was preceded in death by maternal aunts: Eunice Guy and Rhea Guy Voight, and nephew: Patrick Jones. Surviving are daughter: Dina Acciai Basile (Frank), son: Guy Acciai (Lisa), grandsons: Christopher & Matthew Acciai, and nephews: Fred and Daniel Jones.
Per her wishes, there will be no service; a private beach ceremony is planned for the family at a later date. The family is grateful for the sensitive care provided by the Showalter staff and nurses, the Warm Hearth at Home aides, and the Medi Hospice team in her last months. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741 or https://www.michaeljfox.org/give-tribute.
There am I in grains of sand
In the neap tide of silver shadows seeing moonlight,
Solar warmth by day and shining heavens by night.
The soft creeping water going somewhere, going nowhere finds aqueous treasures and distant memories there in grains of sand.
Transient tracings remain by the sea, unrestrained sand shifts, reconfigures; diminutive denes wax and wane.
The endless and eternal ocean is not contained – yet thru storms and breakers, sand, like love, remains.
In grains of sand, there and I – forever
Dorothy McAdoo Acciai – “Dody”
