Dorothy Anne Salen

Niantic, CT - Dorothy Anne Salen, of Hope St., Niantic, died Tuesday, January 13, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She had endured a five-year battle with leukemia, which she fought until the very last day of her life.

“Dot” was born on December 21, 1939 in Emsworth, PA, the daughter of Herbert and Anne Ivanca Geither. She grew up in western Pennsylvania with her siblings Edward (Sharon) and Peter (Sandra) Geither, Virginia Cunningham (Pat Fenton), and Marianne (Rue) Snider.

Following her marriage to Thomas Bowser (deceased), she spent the next 19 years as a “Navy wife,” living in many places including Hawaii, California, Virginia, Maryland and Florida before settling in Connecticut in 1973. She also held a number of jobs which included National Geographic Magazine and Aetna Insurance, among others.

She married Robert Salen on June 21, 1980, in Groton, CT. In addition to Robert and the siblings named above, she is survived by her sons Jeffery (Sharon) and David Bowser, daughters Susan (Michael) DeMuria, Theresa (Dean) Rogers, Lisa (Bob) Mazzella, and Kimberly (Don) Salen-Glenn, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The many surviving nieces and nephews of Dot Salen include Cathy (R.C. Miller) Smith of North Stonington.

Over the years Dot had the pleasure of enjoying her many friends, children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays were always very special and her home filled with family and friends. Dot and Bob traveled extensively and capped their journeys with a wonderful cruise and vacations in Italy, Greece and Turkey. The family resided in Gales Ferry for many years, with Bob and Dot finally retiring to Niantic, CT in 2013.

An eldest daughter, Dot was the one whose spice drawer was always in order, whose book shelves were sorted by size and color, and who never went on vacation without raking the rugs as she backed out the door. More than that, she was known as the heart of her extended family, the sister with whom everyone wanted to be, whether she happened to reside in Hawaii or Connecticut. She refused to carry grudges, talk politics or judge anyone who did. It is in the family, she insisted, where we choose first whether to tolerate, judge, belittle, antagonize, humiliate or cherish. In this cauldron, we test our character and become in our essence, cowardly or courageous, cold or compassionate. Her unceasing message to all and everyone: there is no time to be anything but authentic, forgiving, loyal and generous. She will be sadly missed.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 17th, at 4 pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 181 Ocean Ave., New London, CT. A visiting hour will be held prior to the service at 3 pm. Please visit www.fultontherouxnewlondon.com for photos, tributes, directions and more service information. Donations in her memory may be made to Center for Hospice Care, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360. In lieu of flowers, Dot would prefer that you kiss a friendly local frog – her favorite creatures.