Obituary of Dorothy Rose Nord

Dorothy Rose Nord passed away unexpectedly on January 19th, at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. She was born in Mansfield, MA. on August 7, 1929, the only child of Howard and Lelia Rose. After graduating from Mansfield High, she attended Simmons College in Boston. She met Erling Nord at a Youth Fellowship meeting at the West Roxbury Congregational Church where they were married on October 7, 1950. They formed a strong partnership of mutual love and respect that lasted until his death last March. She died the day before what would have been his 94th birthday, we believe to be with him to celebrate it. In 1953 they moved to Essex, where they made their home for over 60 years. Dorothy started the local "Welcome Wagon" service in the 1960's and eventually became a Regional Manager for the company. She then returned to school and got her Education degree, and became a kindergarten teacher at Essex Elementary for many years. She was very active in the local community serving on The Conservation Commission, The Land Trust, and many activities at The First Congregational Church of Essex where she also played the Saturday Chimes. She served as President, and for many years, as a tutor at Valley Shore Literacy Volunteers and as a Corporator and weekly volunteer at Middlesex Hospital. She was a founder and member of the Potapaug Audubon Society. Her interests with Erl included tennis, nature, cross country skiing, world travel and swimming at Mile Creek Beach Club in Old Lyme. She leaves her son Carl and his wife Anne (Kenyon) of Killingworth, a daughter Andrea and her husband Harry Tankin of Yardley, PA, and a daughter Lisa and her husband Lance Zack of Albany, NH. Her family also included her grandchildren, Elizabeth Zack, Noah Tankin, as well as Holly and Lindsay Nord. Donald and Alberta Morrison formally of Ivoryton and Westbrook were close lifelong friends who she had delighted in visiting and reminiscing with the day before her passing. A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Sunday January 25th at The First Congregational Church of Essex, 6 Methodist Hill, in Essex followed by a reception at Chester Village West, 317 West Main Street, in Chester. Burial will be privately held by her family. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy had asked that donations to be made to the Literacy Volunteers of Valley Shore Inc. P.O. Box 1006, Westbrook, CT 06498. In her memory, enjoy a bit of nature. To send a condolence to her family, or share a memory of Dorothy, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.