Dorothy Wolfe Sparber, 99, of Sarasota, Florida, and formerly of Mount Carmel, died Friday, April 7, 2023, after a brief illness and hospitalization, just a few months shy of her 100th birthday. She passed away peacefully at her home.

Dorothy was born in Girardville, Sept. 23, 1923, a daughter of the late Louis J. and Jennie (Block) Matlow.

A graduate of Girardville High School, she briefly attended Penn State University and graduated from Pierce College, in Philadelphia.

She married Melvin M. Wolfe, in 1947, and resided in Mount Carmel until 1993. Dorothy and Melvin, who died in 1977, operated Meldot's Children Shop, from 1950 to 1983.

Following Melvin's death, she married Max Sparber, in 1978, and helped him manage his store Henlee's until they moved to Sarasota, in 1993.

To her last day, Dorothy loved her life in Mount Carmel where she was known fondly as "Mrs. Meldot." Even today, decades after she sold the store, former customers cherish memories of shopping in her store and purchasing their communion dresses. Another favorite memory was running Broadway bus trips with her sister-in-law, Jackie Matlow, to New York City to support Hadassah, which benefited her synagogue Tifereth Israel.

When she moved to Sarasota, she transitioned its Main Street into her own Mount Carmel, stopping in every store and chatting with the store owners. Local restauranteurs knew Dorothy and she would endear herself with their staffs. She also became a volunteer and ambassador at her favorite haunt, the consignment shop Women's Exchange. She worked there into her early 90s. On more than one occasion, Dorothy was honored as Volunteer of the Year for doing what she did best, selling more than all the other volunteers.

Dorothy was a member of Temple Beth Shalom and Hadassah.

She loved her life in Sarasota, from the opera and theater to entertaining family and friends in her apartment. With unwavering tenacity, she lived independently until the last few months of her life.

A four-time, 50-years cancer survivor, Dorothy is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Ira and Jerry Wolfe, of Wind Gap, and David and Rachel Wolfe, of Monroe, Connecticut; two grandchildren, Carly Wolfe and Melissa (Laura) Wolfe; two stepchildren, Sean (Naomi) McAllister and Joel McAllister; and three stepgrandchildren, Madison McAllister, Waylon McAllister and Walker McAllister; her brother, David Matlow, and sister-in-law, Ann Matlow; and her sister-in-law, Jackie Matlow; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Sedell (Bloch) and Ruth (Schwartz); and a brother, Ted Matlow.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a service with Rabbi Nina H. Mandel officiating in C. J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc, 27 N. Vine St., Mount Carmel. Interment will follow in Tifereth Israel Cemetery, Mount Carmel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Mount Carmel Area Public Library, Women's Exchange Inc., of Sarasota, Florida, Temple Beth Shalom, of Sarasota, Florida, or the American Cancer Society.