Dorothy M. (DeRycke) Mueller, 93, died peacefully on October 22, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham.

Dorothy was born on July 9, 1933, in Kewanee, IL, the daughter of the late Charles and Florence (Rose) DeRycke. Her formative years were spent in Milwaukee, WI and on the family’s farm in Kewanee, IL. Dorothy attended Marquette University and Prospect Hall Secretarial School in Milwaukee. Having met in high school through their Catholic Youth Organization, Dorothy married Richard F. Mueller in 1955. They settled in Wauwatosa, WI where they began raising their family before moving to Winchester, MA in 1967.

Dorothy's life work was raising her ten children to be strong in faith, independent, and caring. Dorothy was a dedicated organizer and volunteer for numerous community organizations over the years, most notably St. Mary’s School and Parish, Winchester Hospital, and the Jenks Center where her devoted service was recognized with the Volunteer of the Year award in 2017. Dorothy worked early in her career as a secretary at Kewanee Boiler and Wisconsin Telephone. Later in life she worked in the Guidance Office at Winchester High School from 1987 to 1998.

Dorothy and Richard, married for 53 years, lived a full life together centered around their faith and family. They enjoyed traveling with their children in their Winnebago throughout the United States, exploring National Parks and visiting family in Illinois and Wisconsin. As their children grew older, vacations were spent at their vacation home on Newfound Lake, New Hampshire. The couple also enjoyed many vacations together; the highlights were their trips to Hawaii, Aruba, the Greek Islands and river cruises throughout Europe. Upon retirement, they spent several months a year in Naples, Florida.

After Richard passed away in 2008, Dorothy lived in their home in Winchester until 2021 when she moved to New Horizons at Choate in Woburn. Dorothy continued to be an active volunteer at the Jenks Center until recently.

Dorothy is survived by her 10 children, Arlene Pellegrino of Marlborough; Carol Bradford and her husband Steven of Sudbury; Diane Finigan and her husband Robert of Reading; James Mueller and his wife June of Ossipee, New Hampshire; David Mueller and his wife Karen of Norwood; Robert Mueller and his wife Amy of Simsbury, Connecticut; Marilyn Marsh and her husband Craig of Ashland; Edward Mueller and his partner Lisa of New Seabury; Ann Benbenek and her husband Michael of Grafton; Stephen Mueller and his wife Catherine, of Newport News, Virginia. She is further survived by 23 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and by her brothers, David DeRycke and Paul DeRycke of Kewanee, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her brother, Jack DeRycke; her grandson, Christopher Marsh, and her son-in-law, Frank Pellegrino.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of New Horizons at Choate in Woburn, and St. Patrick’s Manor and Good Shepherd Hospice, for their care and kindness.

Visiting Hours will be in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 4-7pm, and again on Friday, October 30, at 11:00 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester. Friends and family are kindly invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her memory to New Horizons at Choate, 21 Warren Ave., Woburn, MA 01801; St. Patrick’s Manor, 863 Central St., Framingham, MA 01701; The Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Rd., Winchester, MA 01890; St. Mary’s Parish, 155 Washington St., Winchester, MA 01890.