Dorothy Ryan Luce, age 73, of East Green Mountain Road, Claremont, died at her home on Sunday, December 20, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was born in Claremont, the daughter of Fred Ryan and Marion (Horton) Ryan.  A graduate of Stevens High School, Class of 1954, Dorothy also earned a B.S. in Social Services in 1958 at the University of New Hampshire.  “Dottie” married her college sweetheart and they started a family in Dover before moving to Moodus, CT, where they lived for eight years.  There she worked as a nursery school teacher, and eventually as the Director of the St. Andrew’s Church Nursery School.  In Connecticut, Dottie also pursued graduate studies in Early Childhood Education.  After moving first to Long Island and then to Buffalo, NY, she made her home in Hopkinton, N.H., where she was a supervising teacher in the Hopkinton After-School Program.  Children were Dottie’s vocation and her life-long passion:  she possessed an uncanny ability to “read” children, and they universally delighted in her company.  Her warm and generous heart and sparkling wit were also beloved by friends and family alike.  In 1990, she and her husband retired to Sloping Meadows Farm in Claremont.  Dottie was active in Claremont civic life, serving on the Board of Directors of the Claremont Opera House and working with the Main Street Program.  She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Arthur H. Luce of Claremont; two sons, Charles Luce (and wife Laura McGrath) of Camden, ME, John Luce (and wife Susan Essex Luce) of Burlington, VT; and by her cherished granddaughters Iris, Meredith and Cecilia.  She is also survived by her brother Harry Ryan of Charlestown, and by numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her brothers William Ryan and Roger Ryan.  Visiting hours are on Wednesday, December 23, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad St., Claremont.  Funeral services will be Saturday, December 26 at 2:00 PM at the First Congregational Church in Claremont.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of one’s choice. 

A graveside committal service will be held on Saturday April 17, 2010 in the West Claremont Burial Ground at 11 AM.  Anyone who is not familiar with where the cemetery is located can meet at the Stringer Funeral Home at 10 AM on Saturday morning.