Dorothy Gertrude Wathen, 90, of Mechanicsville, MD passed away on March 19, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital.

Born June 6, 1920 in Hollywood, MD she was the daughter of the late George A. Joy, Sr. and Lillie Love Joy.

Mrs. Wathen co-managed and co-operated the family farm which was purchased in 1948. She always had time for the family celebrations during all occasions. She enjoyed cooking and gardening until her health no longer allowed it. She had her own unique style of motivating her family members to achieve goals based on what she felt would fit their needs to get the job done. The children and grandchildren can provide some laughs on the tactics she used on them. She was a very strong willed and determined lady who knew how to get the job done.

She is survived by three children, Bernard A. Wathen of Mechanicsville, MD, Edna W. Burch of Mechanicsville, MD, and Dr. George Wathen and his wife Lucy of Welcome, MD; ten grandchildren, Randy Wathen, Sandy Tennison and her husband Tom, Cheryl Lyon and her husband Jimmy, Perry Wathen and his wife Kelly, Joseph F. Burch, Jr. and his Theresa, Raymond A. Burch, Michael J. Wathen and his wife Amy, Beth Picarelli and her husband Alex, Mandy Garcia and her husband Grant, and Emily Wathen; Twelve great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Joe Tennison, Austin, Christina and Megan Wathen, Mark Letcher, Jr., Joseph III, Susan, Brian, Shane and Theresa Burch.

Preceded in death by her loving husband George H. Wathen, Sr.; her brothers Ignatius, George Jr., Benjamin, Jack, Michael, and Harold Joy; her sisters, Katherine Black, Alice Russell, and Mary A. Joy; daughter-in-law Bertha A. Wathen; son-in-law, J. Franklin Burch, Sr.; great-grandson Christopher Wood; and a special nephew, John E. Joy and his wife Rita who was part of Dorothy's home from the time she married, up to the time John married Rita.

Family will receive friends for Dorothy's Life Celebration on Friday, March 25, 2011 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD with prayers recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morganza, MD with Father Keith Woods officiating.

Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Acting as pallbearers will be: Joseph F. Burch, Jr., Randy Wathen, Raymond Burch, Michael Wathen, Joe Tennison, and John Kolbe.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.