Dorathea (Dot) Irene Tewes Niebling

Dorathea (Dot) Irene Tewes Niebling
87 years old, May 2, 1938 - January 11, 2026.

Dorathea (“Dot”) was born on May 2, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY. From her early childhood, Dot carried with her formative experiences living in the NY Veterans Projects after WW II and developed the talent for making the best in challenging times. Through her years in New York and Vermont, North Carolina, and Ohio, Dot lived a life defined by family, adventure, and service.

She shared nearly 67 years of marriage with her devoted husband, Don, building a home filled with warmth, laughter, and welcome. Known fondly as the “hostess with the mostest,” she had a special gift for hospitality. She planned beautiful gatherings overflowing with festive food and made everyone feel at home. While Dot’s professional life spanned roles as a corporate secretary, home party salesperson, real estate agent, and retail specialist, her primary focus was always her family and community. In every role, Dot was known for being exceptionally organized, thoughtful, and a true planner.

Dot was a lifelong, faithful member of the United Methodist Church. Her church service was wide-ranging and heartfelt. She volunteered with the Interfaith Hospitality Network with individuals experiencing homelessness, helped create welcoming coffee hours through Café Messiah, and lovingly provided childcare for the young moms group. She was a pioneer in the Hispanic ministry programs at White Plains UMC (Cary, NC) and extended that passion internationally through mission work in Peru, a place and people she deeply loved. Dot was a dedicated member of United Methodist Women and a supporter of free store ministries and charitable rummage sales, and she also spent years acting as a key support for individuals striving to build better lives for their families.

Above all else, Dot was a dedicated Mom and a deeply cherished Nana. She coordinated a well-rounded array of family activities from swim, dance, and music lessons to fundraising and chaperoning for band boosters and church events. She valued education deeply and worked hard to give her children opportunities she herself had not had. Though she couldn’t carry a tune, her house was always full of music, as she delighted in the musical gifts of her family and never missed a performance of her kids and grandkids. She loved doing creative crafts with children, and she was always willing to scoop up a sick grandchild and selflessly care for them. From hand-knitting dresses and baking lamb cakes for Easter, creating unique Halloween costumes, serving a Thanksgiving feast, to the matching PJs and piles of presents on Christmas morning and sleepovers with homemade noisemakers on New Years, Nana was the heart of every holiday. Her legacy is one of love freely given.

Truly, Dot never met a stranger and never turned down a chance to explore. Her adventurous spirit led her to take cross-country camping trips with her young family, host international visitors, and travel around the world in her later years. She loved finding a good bargain, meeting new people, and especially loved cruising, which she could happily talk about for hours. She loved life so much that she wasn't ready to go – she was always looking forward to "one more cruise."

Predeceased by her parents, Dorathea Greiner and Fred Tewes, and brother Frederick Tewes. Survived by her beloved husband of over 66 years Donald Niebling of Westerville, OH, daughter Bette (Fred) Miller of Burgaw NC, son Scott Niebling of Cary NC, and daughter Wendy (Dean) Johnston of Westerville OH, grandchildren Joseph (Jessica) Miller, Megan (Prescott) Hill, Hartlee (Sam) Lidsky, Sam Johnston, and Jenna Johnston, and great grandchildren Alice Marie Miller and Jethro Scott Hill.

Her family is planning celebration of her life in the spring on April 10, 2026 at Church of the Messiah United Methodist Church 51 N. State Street Westerville, OH 43081.
If you would like to make a memorial contribution, consider supporting Common Ground Free Store Ministries of Delaware, OH and include a designation note in memory of Dot Niebling. https://commongroundfreestore.org/give-now.html