​The world is a better place because of Dorothy C. "Dotti" Cannon

Dotti, a longtime Manchester resident who died on June 10, was highly respected in this community. The recipient of several community awards, she was involved in many organizations, served on numerous boards, and had friends throughout the community. She was a beloved, lifelong member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, we held a special service on the church lawn to pay tribute to Dotti’s life, with members of Dotti’s family as our guests. The service had been postponed several times due to weather. But on Oct. 4, not only was the weather glorious, but there was an unlikely Easter lily in full bloom in the Church Memorial Garden. One parishioner said it was as if Dotti was smiling down on us.

Our parish community adored Dotti. She was an icon of goodness and generosity. In the Christian tradition, icons are images that remind us of the presence of God. With her giving spirit and uncanny gift for genuinely “seeing” people, Dotti exemplified the Godly life.

When I first met Dotti, I was interviewing for the position of Rector of St. Mary's. As a long evening of conversation was ending, Dotti began to tell me her story. She shared her dream that St. Mary’s membership would come to reflect the diversity of the Manchester community and be a place where we would live out the justice we believe God is calling us to. In that moment, I knew I wanted to serve at St. Mary's.

I am filled with memories of Dotti—her spirit, her faith and her determination. Even at the end of her life, she was full of gratitude. She believed in people. She believed that better days will come and that all will be well. Especially now, when the world is so troubled, Dotti’s example can inspire us to hope for the future.

So we give thanks for Dotti. May the better days she envisioned come for us all.

The Rev. Ann Lovejoy Johnson, Rector

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Manchester, CT