Dorothy Veronica Sweeney (nee Murphy), 92, a lifelong resident of Short Hills, N.J., died on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, of natural causes. Visitation will be on Friday, July 29, 2011, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bradley Smith & Smith Funeral Home, 415 Morris Ave., Springfield, N.J. A Mass will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 11:15 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Short Hills. For further information or to send the family a condolence, please visit bradleyfuneralhomes.com. Dorothy grew up in Jersey City, N.J., and graduated from Dickinson High School. During World War II, she worked in New York City as an overseas operator for AT&T. After marriage, Dorothy retired from working outside the home, accepting instead the challenge of raising five daughters and two sons, duties at which she excelled. She instilled pride and independence in her children and was a strong supporter of women's rights. Dorothy was an avid political observer and social critic, with great intellect and keen insight. Her intellectual curiosity was unbounded. Regularly, in a single day she was known to consume the stories and viewpoints printed in the publications as diverse as the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, and the New York Post. Every day, however, she read the Times from cover to cover, frequently clipping stories to send to her children to enlighten or enliven their days. Dorothy valued the services rendered by, and was a regular caller to, the reference librarian at the East Orange Public Library. She was an international traveler, having lived with her husband in Sri Lanka, Turkey, Guatemala and Mexico. Dorothy also was a renowned practitioner in the almost lost art of letter writing, shared particularly with three of her granddaughters. She was a long term member of the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Short Hills. Dorothy was predeceased by her mother, Katherine; her father, Joseph; her husband, Col. Matthew J. (her beloved Mattie); her daughter, Barbara; her son-in-law, Dr. Charles Engelhardt; her brothers, Joseph and Walter, and her sisters, Marion, Loretta, and Marguerite. She is survived by her brother, Richard (Gladys) Murphy of Jackson, N.J., and also by her daughters, Patricia Engelhardt of Longwood, Fla.; Marita Kresge of Spring Lake Heights, N.J.; Teresa Tyzbir of Rumson, N.J., and Morna (Dr. Joseph) DePasquale of Boonton Township, N.J.; her sons, Matt (Judy) Sweeney of Nashville, Tenn., and Mark L. (Sharon) Sweeney of Pasadena, Calif.; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy's name may be made to Hermits of Our Lady of Carmel, 80 Pleasant Hill Rd., Chester, N.J. 07930.