Farmington Obituary: Dorothy McLaughlin, 88

Dorothy Pillmeier McLaughlin, 88, of Farmington. “It matters not how long a star shines. What is remembered is the brightness of its light.”

Born Dorothy Pillmeier on February 2, 1929 at the Slesinski farm in Durlandville, NY, she was the daughter of the late Katherine (Wiecek) and William P. Pillmeier, Sr.

She leaves behind her six dear children, thirteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter: Dory and husband Rick Sevigny; Shaun McLaughlin and his children Kelley, Patrick and Dory; Francis and wife Nola McLaughlin and their children Christopher and Victoria; Katrina and husband Carroll Poovey and their children Ryan and his wife Audra and their daughter Isabel, Joshua and Benjamin; Casey and wife Maura McLaughlin and their children Thomas and Michael; Erin and wife Sherry McLaughlin and their children Patrick, Michael and Matthew. In addition, she leaves behind two former daughters-in-law, Nancy Hepp and Janet McLaughlin, her brother William Pillmeier, Jr., and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends. She was predeceased by her sister Theresa Pillmeier Alders.

She grew up in Florida, NY and was one of the seventeen that graduated from the local high school S.S. Seward Institute, Class of 1946. She was one of the descendants pictured in the 1941 National Geographic with her grandparents Joseph and Mary Wiecek.

She earned a childcare technician certificate at St. Mary’s Hospital in Norwalk. Prior to that she had worked in Hackensack, NJ and New York City. She moved from Norwalk to Farmington in 1961 where she lovingly raised her family.

In later years she worked at Forms for Business, Sage Allen and The Hartford Insurance Group. She was an honorary member of the former St. Patrick’s Women’s Guild, a Tunxis Senior, and a Meals on Wheels driver.

A Mass to celebrate a life well lived will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 10:30am in the Church of St. Patrick, 110 Main St., Farmington. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Farmington Meals on Wheels, c/o Services for the Elderly, 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville, CT 06085.