Manchester Obituary: Dorothy Tomlinson, 80

Dorothy Elaine Tomlinson, 80, of Manchester, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, West Indies on July 25, 1936, daughter of the late Eric and Inez (Lynch) Daniels, she was raised in Jamaica and had lived in Hartford and Bloomfield for 15 years before moving to Manchester 25 years ago. Dorothy worked at The Travelers Insurance Company for over 25 years before taking a position at Sovereign Bank where she worked for 35 years until her retirement. Dorothy held two or more jobs for many years including working at the Oak Hill School for the Blind in Hartford for over 23 years.

A longtime Manchester resident, Dorothy was a member of W.A.T.E.S. (Woman’s Association to Enjoy Sliming) since 1994 and was crowned Queen in 1994 and she was a longtime member and volunteer at the Manchester Historical Society. Dorothy loved taking part in the many events hosted by the Manchester Historical Society including the Annual Tag Sale, Society Teas, and the Annual Christmas Gala.

As a State of Connecticut employee while working at the Oak Hill School, Dorothy was also a member of the Connecticut State Employees Association and had served as treasurer for several years. Dorothy was a longtime active member of the Bloomfield United Methodist Church where she served as the church treasurer for many years and helped to organized many events within the life of the church including the Annual Tea Party, Harvest Festival, and Strawberry Festival.

Her family and friends will fondly remember Dorothy’s love of cooking and baking and her cakes that she was very well known for at family parties and church events. Most of all, Dorothy will be remembered for her love of family, laughter, her pristine appearance, her perfect etiquette in every situation, and for the many sacrifices that she made for her children.

She leaves a son, Robert Tomlinson and his wife Linda of Manchester; a daughter, Kerryann Tomlinson of Phoenix, AZ; three grandchildren, Ryan Vannieuwenhuyze, Evan Vannieuwenhuyze, and Logan Tomlinson; two brothers-in-law, Henry Tomlinson and his wife Catherine of Hartford and Desmond Tomlinson of New York; three sisters-in-laws, Barbara Cohen of Nashville, TN, Ina Foster of Midland, TX, and Cecile Harris of Canada; seven special cousins, Jimmy, Peter, Jeff, Pauline, Marjorie, and Andrew Daniels, and Faith Orr; 10 nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her former spouse and the father of her children, Neil George Tomlinson.

Her family will receive friends on Friday, July 14, 5-7 p.m., with a Wake Service at 7 p.m., at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor and on Saturday, July 15, from 9-10 a.m., at the Bloomfield United Methodist Church. A Homegoing Service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m., at the Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 297 School Street, Bloomfield. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.

Dorothy’s family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 297 School St., Bloomfield, CT 06002, to the Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, CT 06040, or to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Center, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.