Obituary of Dorothy Helmer Bandemer

Bandemer, Dorothy (Helmer) "Dottie" FAIRPORT/VICTOR Dorothy H. Bandemer passed peacefully into heaven on Monday July 4, 2016 at age 90. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Herbert L. Bandemer ("Dr. B"). She is survived by her children, Lin (Deb) Bandemer, Ruth (Paul) Bowman, Jean Bandemer Rioch; grandchildren Ryan and Eric Bandemer, Emily (Dustin) Friesen, Brent, Matthew (Alicia) and Steven Bowman, Adam and Chip Rioch; and great grandchildren, Aeden and Ella Bowman and Abigail Friesen. Dorothy Evelyn Helmer was born in Frankfort, NY on April 22, 1926. She became interested in music at a young age, performing in school bands and choirs. She played several instruments including saxophone, clarinet, French horn, and piano. After graduating from Frankfort High School in 1944, she went on to attend the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music. Her first job after college was teaching music in the Bloomfield School District. One of her college buddies, Barbara Greene, got married in 1948 and asked Dorothy to be her maid of honor. At the same time, Herbert Bandemer of Pittsford, NY was being asked by Barb’s groom, Harry Howell, to be his best man. The wedding took place in Rhode Island so I like to say it was Providence that brought Mom & Dad together! That’s because a relationship was sparked that day and one year later Herbert & Dorothy were married in the Methodist Church in Frankfort. Mom always said she married the “best” man! Herb & Dottie first lived in Bloomfield while Herb finished the first phase of his college career in the University of Rochester pre-veterinary program. Then, in 1951, they moved to Ithaca, NY so Herb could begin the next phase of his education in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dottie spent a little time teaching music in the Ithaca school district until their son Herbert Linwood was born in October of 1953. Ruth Marie followed in 1955 and that was also the year Herb graduated from Cornell. Following a few years working for veterinarians in Ithaca and Cortland, NY, Herb followed his dream of opening his own veterinary practice when they purchased a home with a large barn in Bushnell’s Basin, a suburb of Rochester on the southeast side. Herb’s father had advised him that the area was slated to expand greatly as people moved out further into the suburbs. He operated the vet practice there for 25 years while Dorothy busied herself as a homemaker and volunteered with the Perinton Ambulance Corps. There were lots of other activities, as well, such as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Eastern Star, Triangle, and church functions at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pittsford. In 1965, the family gained a very special bonus as little sister Jean Helen was born. 1975 brought changes as Herb moved the practice to Victor, NY and then sold it to Dr. Ann Lill who had worked for him for several years. At the same time, a new home was built on Dryer Rd. in Victor and there Herb & Dottie spent many wonderful years as their extended family grew. Holiday dinners, birthdays, picnics, reunions, and Herb’s excellent BBQ’d chicken were enjoyed by sometimes as many as 50 relatives who looked forward to the good family times at “Grandpa and Grandma B’s” and “Uncle Herb’s and Aunt Dottie’s” farm. Later on, Herb & Dottie moved to smaller quarters in Canandaigua and eventually an assisted living apartment where Herb spent his final months battling lymphoma until his passing in October of 2008. Dorothy eventually moved to the Fairport Baptist Home where she spent the last few years. Services will be held 11 AM SATURDAY July 9th at Lucey-VanVoorhis Funeral Home, 301 West Main St., Victor. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery. Dorothy would be grateful to those who wish to donate to a charity of their choice.