Dorothy Ann "Dot" Seghers Roniger's Obituary
Dorothy Ann “Dot” Seghers Roniger died peacefully on September 12, 2014, at age 97. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 39 years, Joseph J. Roniger, Sr. and her parents, Clarence and Bertha Ray Seghers and by her granddaughter, Beth Roniger. She is survived by four sons: Joseph J. Roniger, M.D. (Mary Sue), Richard R. Roniger, M.D. (Marjorie), Timothy T. Roniger (Nancy), and Rory C. Roniger (Becky) and nine grandchildren: Peter Roniger, Sarah Roniger Bennett (Beau), Luke Roniger (Riley), Jonathan Roniger (Deidre), Taney Roniger (Colin Selleck), Geoffrey Roniger (Taylor), Seamus Roniger, Tyson Roniger (Angel), and Megan Roniger. She was the step grandmother of Emery Ordemann and Beau Ordemann and the great grandmother of ten.
Dot’s mother died in the flu epidemic of 1918 when Dot was only a year old. Her bereaved father gave her into the care of her maternal grandparents, Marie Louise Taney Ray and Willie Ray who raised her. Upon graduation from high school and secretarial school, Dot entered the workforce, as she was the sole provider for her aging grandparents. She worked at New Orleans Public Service, Inc. and then as a medical secretary at Ochsner Clinic. Her final position was that of secretary to the Dean of University College at Tulane. Upon her retirement, she fulfilled her life-long dream of going to college, entering Loyola University as an English major. She made the Dean’s List three times and was inducted into the National English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, in 1986. She graduated in May 1988 with a B.A. Cum Laude in English at the age of 70.
While Dot was proud of her college degree, she was most proud of educating and raising her four sons. She loved her family, enjoyed learning, traveling, playing tennis, watching sports, and playing duplicate bridge and mah jong. She reveled in all holidays and celebrations, especially Mardi Gras.
Dot never forgot her French heritage and the fact that she was descended from some of the earliest Louisiana settlers. She belonged to the Louisiana Colonials and the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as Regent of the Spirit of ’76 Chapter in 2005. She pursued her love of the French language through her participation in Les Causeries du Lundi and her interest in literature in a Great Books club. Dot will be remembered by all who knew her for her devotion to her family and her “joie de vivre”.
Dot’s family would like to thank the staff of Notre Dame Hospice and Chateau de Notre Dame for their competent and compassionate care in the last months of her life.
Funeral services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S. New Hampshire St., Covington, La. on Saturday, September 20, 2014. Visitation will be at 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall, followed by a service in the Chapel at 5 p.m. Her ashes will be placed in the Memorial Garden next to the church immediately following the church service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Danielle Inn, P.O. Box 2976, Covington, La. 70434.
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