Obituary of Dorethea Lebrecht

Dorothea Janet Lebrecht, a retired Sears Roebuck department store manager passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 8, 2017. She was 86 years old. Dorothea was born in Cambridge, the only daughter of John and Marion Varella. She grew up in Cambridge and was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. She worked in the USO in Boston during the Korean War. She had a short marriage to Charles David Lebrecht and had her only child, David Lebrecht. She spent much of David’s childhood as a single mother. She had to be both and mother and family provider. She went to work at Sears Roebuck in Cambridge and worked in various departments before becoming the department manager in the furniture, baby, and men’s departments. She spent 32 years with Sears in both the Cambridge and Burlington stores. She loved working with the customers and fellow employees, as well as the flexibility the position allowed a single parent. Dorothea’s life revolved around her son, David, and later his family. It was just the two of them and she made lasting memories filled with love both at home and at their cottage at Lake Winnipesaukee that they shared with her brother Richard and his family. When David married and eventually moved to Virginia Beach, Dorothea decided it was time to retire and left her home of 40 years to head south to Virginia Beach. In June of 2000, David passed away suddenly from surgical complications. Dorothea was heartbroken, but understood that she had to be strong and her maternal instincts rose to the front as she stepped up to comfort and support her daughter-in-law and her 4 young grandchildren. She was always there for them with a helping hand or kind word. Dorothea adored children, and was always willing to babysit for anyone who asked. The kids called her “Nana” or “Miss Dottie” and the parents called her a godsend. Dorothea became very active in the Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. She felt at home at the church and was deeply involved in the church’s missionary work with the homeless at the Potter’s House, Parent’s Day Out program, and the Sunday morning nursery program. She definitely had an angel watching over her, because she survived the Virginia Beach Good Friday Miracle of 2012 when an FA-18 Super Hornet crashed into her apartment while she was reading Easter Cards from her family. She walked away from the devastation completely unscathed and simply refers to the incident as “a price for freedom”. She was interviewed about her experience by many news stations and continually praised God and talked about how she still had a purpose here on this Earth. Dorothea was the loving mother of the late David. She had a great relationship with her daughter-in-law Lisa (Anderson) Lebrecht of Hudson, NH. They supported and cared for each other as a mother and daughter. She was the sister of John Varella and the late Richard Varella. Dorothea was the proud and loving grandmother of Christopher & Kyle of Hudson, NH, Caitlyn of Burlington, and Kelley of Port Richey, FL and great grandmother to Emma and Elizah Lebrecht. She had 2 special nieces in Sara Varella Ringos and Ann Marie Varella Snell both of Somerville. A visitation will be held at the Story Chapel at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St. Cambridge on Thursday June 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 4 and graveside farewell. Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington. For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.mountauburn.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net