RUMFORD – Dorothy G. “Dot” Sanchas, 85, of Prospect Avenue, Rumford, died peacefully at her home Tuesday, Oct. 28, with her family by her side.

She was born in Rumford, Nov. 4, 1922, a daughter of Leon and Catherine (Gillis) Gallant. She graduated from Berlin High School, Berlin, N.H., Class of 1940, and had attended the University of Maine.

Dot worked for more than 18 years as a nutritional aide for the University of Maine. She was the founder of Santa’s Helpers in the Rumford area, which she began in the late 1970s and was the founder of the “Free Store,” which is an extension of Santa’s Helpers during the rest of the year. She has for many years owned and operated “Dot’s Cakery” at her home on Prospect Avenue in Rumford.

She was a communicant of Parish of the Holy Savior, St. Athanasius-St. John Church in Rumford, where she cooked breakfast for the church Sunday mornings, serving on many committees and has served as a lecture and eucharistic minister for many years and was a member of the Rosary Group. She was a member and two-time past regent of St. Timothy Circle 504, Daughters of Isabella. She was a member and Paul Harris Fellow of the Rumford Rotary Club.

She was married in Fall River, Mass., July 19, 1941, to Arthur S. Sanchas, who died in Rumford on Dec. 21, 2005.

Survivors include daughters, Catherine Rand and husband, Richard, of Portland, Maureen Desjardins and husband, James, of Dixfield, Margaret McNeal and Robert Grinnell, of Rumford and Rosemary Russell and Brett Overton, of Denham Springs, La.; sons, Jonathan Berkleigh of Holly Hill, Fla., Joseph Sanchas and wife, Diane, of Peru, Louis Sanchas of Gainesville, Ga., James Sanchas and partner, Bob Daniels, of Ocklawaha, Fla., and Laurence Sanchas and wife, Juliet, of Baton Rouge, La.; a sister, Marie Sanchas and husband, Raymond, of Warren, R.I.; a brother, Allan Gallant and wife, Nina, of Rumford; 18 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by children, Maria Sanchas and Mary Pride.

The family would like to thank Tammy Bean and Laura and the staff at Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and also to Dr. Marden and staff and Pennie and Nancy.