IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Dorothy Morris
Bresnahan
May 16, 2014
Obituary
Dorothy (Dot) Morris Bresnahan, age 87, of Scituate, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 16 at the Life Care Center of the South Shore after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. Dot was born Dorothy Race Morris on March 23, 1927 to Walter and Margaret (Suzy) Morris in Meriden, Connecticut. She grew up in Meriden and attended primary and secondary school there all the while developing her lifelong love of family, friends and community. Dot also had a keen sense of
competition that ran in the family especially with her namesake, Aunt Dorothy Race.
She especially enjoyed summer getaways on the Connecticut coast and the sense of civic pride instilled by wartime activities such as victory gardens and war bond rallies. She also greatly enjoyed the popular music of the day and was able to attend concerts by the likes of popular stars such as Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Buddy Rich.
Dot matriculated at Lasell Junior College in Auburndale, MA. There she made many lasting relationships and spread her cheerful, friendly nature to many others. The 1946 graduating class prophecy predicted that, "With her new invention the Dabooza, Dot Morris will travel around the West with her theme song, the "Arkansas Traveller (sic)." While all the nuances of this prediction may be lost to history, it is abundantly clear that Dot was seen as a music lover who had an infectious spirit that made strangers feel immediately welcome. At graduation, Dot was honored with the White Jacket Award, as one of the graduating class's outstanding students.
After Lasell, Dot went on to get her teacher's degree at Wheelock College in Boston. It was during a college year weekend excursion to Scituate that Dot met her future husband Richard (Dick) Bresnahan. Dick was working at his father's pharmacy (now the restaurant Jamie's) in North Scituate while attending the Massachusetts School of Pharmacy. Thus started a lifelong love relationship that went on for more than 66 years.
After Wheelock, Dot went back to Meriden to teach at the Roger Sherman School while Dick finished his schooling in Boston. While back in Meriden, Dot renewed her relationships with her sisters Helen and Margaret (Sis) to become more than just great siblings but also true friends.
After Dick's graduation, Dot and Dick were united in marriage on September 16, 1950. Shortly thereafter Dot gave up her teaching career as the family soon grew to include six sons; Richard, Thomas, David, Walter, Donald and Mark. Dot and Dick bought a home on Country Way in Scituate where they raised their six boys. Dot provided a loving home and all the boys shared her love of sport and games. Family vacations were often spent taking the family in the VW bus to Meriden CT. and Middlebury VT. where the boys would spend countless hours engaged in a variety of activities with their cousins.
Dot continued her love of sports and games by joining the local bowling league, having friends over for games of bridge, teaching swimming and challenging her boys to many games of croquet on the unique tree root filled court at the homestead on Country Way. Later Dot would become an avid golfer and family tournaments would be an integral part of family vacations. She would always relish the moments when she scored better than one of her boys.
After the boys got older and started out on their own, Dot rejoined the work force as a Real Estate Agent where her infectious smile and bright personality were a great asset. Just before retiring, Dot and Dick resettled on third cliff; overlooking the golf course and what would become their beloved salt water marsh. Dot and Dick enjoyed several years of camaraderie and gamesmanship at the Scituate Country Club.
Dot enjoyed many happy and healthy years of retirement as she was able to travel extensively with Dick and visit with her children, grand-children and great grandchildren. Dot spread her positive ways to everyone that she came into contact with. She was loved by countless, revered by most and considered a mentor to many. Her constant in life was her love of family and her optimistic view of the world.
Several years ago, Alzheimer's began to take hold and strip away Dot's outer shell, but to the end she was always able to brighten a room and bring a smile to even a stranger's face. She continued her love of music as she was constantly humming or singing. Dot especially enjoyed outings to see the Brown brothers play at PJ's restaurant where everyone would brighten up and smile as she danced her way to the tip jar.
Dot will always be remembered as a loving wife and a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend with a bright, infectious and upbeat spirit.
Dot is survived by her husband, Richard (Dick) of Scituate, her sister, Helen Summers of Middletown, CT, her brother-in-laws Donald Smith of Clinton, CT and George Bresnahan of Scituate, her six sons, Richard and his wife Ann of Hope, ME, Thomas and his wife Josie of Warren, ME, David and his wife Kim of Mason City, IA, Walter of Scituate, Donald and his fiancé Rose of Newburyport MA, and Mark and his wife Cynthia of Easton, MA. Also survived by thirteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, friends and special friend Laurie Walsh. She is also survived by her dear former daughter in-laws, Annie Bresnahan, Karyn Goodwin and Heidi Bresnahan.
The family would like to thank all of the healthcare providers at Sunrise in Cohasset and Lifecare in Scituate that gave Dot much love, care and friendship. The family is also especially grateful to Dot's son Walter Bresnahan, for his focused care over her most challenging years.
Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Suzy Morris, her sister Margaret Smith and her nephews William Smith and Chris Summers.
A celebration of Dot's life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contribution may be directed in her name to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.
competition that ran in the family especially with her namesake, Aunt Dorothy Race.
She especially enjoyed summer getaways on the Connecticut coast and the sense of civic pride instilled by wartime activities such as victory gardens and war bond rallies. She also greatly enjoyed the popular music of the day and was able to attend concerts by the likes of popular stars such as Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Buddy Rich.
Dot matriculated at Lasell Junior College in Auburndale, MA. There she made many lasting relationships and spread her cheerful, friendly nature to many others. The 1946 graduating class prophecy predicted that, "With her new invention the Dabooza, Dot Morris will travel around the West with her theme song, the "Arkansas Traveller (sic)." While all the nuances of this prediction may be lost to history, it is abundantly clear that Dot was seen as a music lover who had an infectious spirit that made strangers feel immediately welcome. At graduation, Dot was honored with the White Jacket Award, as one of the graduating class's outstanding students.
After Lasell, Dot went on to get her teacher's degree at Wheelock College in Boston. It was during a college year weekend excursion to Scituate that Dot met her future husband Richard (Dick) Bresnahan. Dick was working at his father's pharmacy (now the restaurant Jamie's) in North Scituate while attending the Massachusetts School of Pharmacy. Thus started a lifelong love relationship that went on for more than 66 years.
After Wheelock, Dot went back to Meriden to teach at the Roger Sherman School while Dick finished his schooling in Boston. While back in Meriden, Dot renewed her relationships with her sisters Helen and Margaret (Sis) to become more than just great siblings but also true friends.
After Dick's graduation, Dot and Dick were united in marriage on September 16, 1950. Shortly thereafter Dot gave up her teaching career as the family soon grew to include six sons; Richard, Thomas, David, Walter, Donald and Mark. Dot and Dick bought a home on Country Way in Scituate where they raised their six boys. Dot provided a loving home and all the boys shared her love of sport and games. Family vacations were often spent taking the family in the VW bus to Meriden CT. and Middlebury VT. where the boys would spend countless hours engaged in a variety of activities with their cousins.
Dot continued her love of sports and games by joining the local bowling league, having friends over for games of bridge, teaching swimming and challenging her boys to many games of croquet on the unique tree root filled court at the homestead on Country Way. Later Dot would become an avid golfer and family tournaments would be an integral part of family vacations. She would always relish the moments when she scored better than one of her boys.
After the boys got older and started out on their own, Dot rejoined the work force as a Real Estate Agent where her infectious smile and bright personality were a great asset. Just before retiring, Dot and Dick resettled on third cliff; overlooking the golf course and what would become their beloved salt water marsh. Dot and Dick enjoyed several years of camaraderie and gamesmanship at the Scituate Country Club.
Dot enjoyed many happy and healthy years of retirement as she was able to travel extensively with Dick and visit with her children, grand-children and great grandchildren. Dot spread her positive ways to everyone that she came into contact with. She was loved by countless, revered by most and considered a mentor to many. Her constant in life was her love of family and her optimistic view of the world.
Several years ago, Alzheimer's began to take hold and strip away Dot's outer shell, but to the end she was always able to brighten a room and bring a smile to even a stranger's face. She continued her love of music as she was constantly humming or singing. Dot especially enjoyed outings to see the Brown brothers play at PJ's restaurant where everyone would brighten up and smile as she danced her way to the tip jar.
Dot will always be remembered as a loving wife and a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend with a bright, infectious and upbeat spirit.
Dot is survived by her husband, Richard (Dick) of Scituate, her sister, Helen Summers of Middletown, CT, her brother-in-laws Donald Smith of Clinton, CT and George Bresnahan of Scituate, her six sons, Richard and his wife Ann of Hope, ME, Thomas and his wife Josie of Warren, ME, David and his wife Kim of Mason City, IA, Walter of Scituate, Donald and his fiancé Rose of Newburyport MA, and Mark and his wife Cynthia of Easton, MA. Also survived by thirteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, friends and special friend Laurie Walsh. She is also survived by her dear former daughter in-laws, Annie Bresnahan, Karyn Goodwin and Heidi Bresnahan.
The family would like to thank all of the healthcare providers at Sunrise in Cohasset and Lifecare in Scituate that gave Dot much love, care and friendship. The family is also especially grateful to Dot's son Walter Bresnahan, for his focused care over her most challenging years.
Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Suzy Morris, her sister Margaret Smith and her nephews William Smith and Chris Summers.
A celebration of Dot's life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contribution may be directed in her name to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.