This site is a tribute to Dorothy McCombe (nee Kydd), who was born in Londonderry on December 30th, 1946. Passed away on September 7, 2019. Surrounded by her loved ones in hospital, at peace after a courageous fight. 

Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her husband Sidney, sons Jonathan and Craig, daughter Lucinda, daughter in law Joanne, son in law Gareth, grandchildren Courtney, Elliott, Jay and the entire family circle.

Please feel free to add a story/memory, picture, thought or light a candle for Dorothy on this page. 

A smile for all, a heart of gold, one of the best this world could hold, never selfish always kind, these are the memories you leave behind ❤

Dorothy went to Ebrington primary then Clondermott secondary school where she was captain of the hockey team.

She attended tech on a Monday night with her sister for typing but it was only really an excuse to get out of the house, though they had to get up early on a Thursday morning whenever they missed three weeks in a row as a letter would have been sent to their parents.

She began working in C. Porter Co. in Foyle Street, before staying on when John Menzies took over, and it moved to Pump Street. Dot was always a very conscious worker, loved dancing, jiving in Memorial hall Saturday night, she won The Fountain Rangers beauty competition in the sixties, which everyone around her was delighted about and she was totally humbled by.

Dot, in everything she did, never changed and was always ready to lend helping hand, and was always a very popular staff member.During this time Dorothy began to save all of her money. On the way to work she would get off the bus a stop early every day to save the half penny which she added to her wages and every time her savings reached £100 she would travel to Belfast to buy all the newest fashion, which her sisters, other family and friends loved to borrow, even without permission.

Dorothy met Sidney for the first time in 1970 when he took her out for a dance at the Embassy Ballroom, but he was quite heavily intoxicated.They had a proper introduction in his brother Willie and Sister in Law Stella's home in June 1971 with Sidney now not quite so tipsy, but wearing a pink shirt and smoking a cigar when she saw him. Sid's friend Ellis was teaching him to drive and they'd called into Stella's while Dorothy happened to be there visiting and Sidney remembered her from the year before.Perhaps Dorothy had forgotton their first meeting though, as when Sidney's brother Willie left her home and she said to him in the car 'How would you fancy me for a sister in law?' And soon, they were spending time together again.They had the wedding arranged in 10 weeks but were saving so they didn't officially get engaged until Nov 1971, then married March 6th 1972.

They wanted a family straight away but it didn't happen for three years. Dorothy had 3 children with 5 miscarriages in between.In Dorothy's words, "My family - My husband and children were all I lived for."Dorothy and Sidney moved to Antrim after getting married, around the same time as Sidney's Brother in Law David and his Wife Pauline.

Young and Newly married, Dorothy and Pauline could not cook so they singed up for cooking lessons at Antrim technical college. The idea being we could impress their men with their new found culinary skills. Such as the time Dorothy told Pauline on the phone about what was on the menu for the next lesson - Quickie Lorraine! It seemed Dot had never heard of Quiche Lorraine before.Although the young wives' cooking was never that great, one thing that was impressive about Dorothy was her ability to get the teacher to do the demonstration for all the class at her food station, resulting in Dorothy having the best baked goods without fail.

In June 1972 Dorothy began working in a local printing firm. She was there for 2 years before starting work for Antrim council, staying there for the next 4 years.She left to begin work in Muckamore Abbey as a wage clerk where she remained for 10 and a half years.Throughout this time her sister Carol and Granny McCombe looked after Jonathan, then her mother, our Granny Speers, looked after Craig.8 years later when Lucinda was born their grannies were no longer fit to look after Dorothy's children and didn't want to leave any of them with strangers, so she gave up her job.When Dorothy was 50 years old and Lucinda was 9 years old, she took up a part time job in Conners chemist which changed to Boots. After some time changed to full time position before Boots changed to Gordens where she remained until she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer nearly five years ago.Dot met many friends along the way whom she still remains friends with now.She worked full time while looking after Craig who was ill with congenital heart disease and also looked after Granny McCombe, who had Alzheimer's as well as helping Dad with the boxing club for over 20 years.

Dorothy got on well with everyone - family, friends and everyone she met - and there was nothing she hated more than arguments or disagreements.

Dot didn't complain through her illness, instead always worrying about all those around her, and she fought courageously until the bitter end. Her philosophy was"You just have to take the bull by the horns and get on with it." The Doctors were surprised to see her still fighting a year after she was diagnosed - and then another year, and another. For nearly 5 years Dororthy took the bull by the horns through all the difficulty an illness like cancer can bring, all the time keeping a smile for everyone and her heart of gold no matter how hard things got.