Dorothy M Stafford

Dorothy is survived by her three daughters: Kathleen Pylant and her husband, James Pylant; Dorothy Lorusso and her husband, Steven Lorusso; and Diane Nadeau and her husband, Gerard Nadeau. They will forever cherish the memories, stories, and laughter their mother shared throughout her long and remarkable life.

She was also the beloved grandmother of the late Brian Hayward and the late Kevin Hayward, Nicole Short, Rene Gaudet, Caron Rothhaar, Catherine Toppan, and Joseph Nadeau. Her family continued to grow through numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, who brought even more joy to her life.

Affectionately known as Nana, Dorothy had a wonderfully eclectic collection of interests. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing rummy, and reading The New Yorker. She also loved music, and Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles” was one of her favorites. Her love of Judy Garland was equally distinctive, and in a stroke of luck that seemed perfectly fitting, Nana, along with her dear friend Evelyn Climo met her one afternoon at the Venezia in Dorchester.

Travel was another great pleasure. Every January, Nana and Grampy escaped to Hawaii for six weeks, spending their time at the Royal Hawaiian. Nana especially looked forward to happy-hour shrimp and cocktails, and she would often joke that they were “spending the inheritance.” The family is still waiting for a sympathy card from the Royal Hawaiian.

Her enjoyment of good food and good company continued at Bobby Hackett’s, Christo’s, Christina’s, and Lou’s, where she formed warm and lasting relationships with her servers. Over the years, she enjoyed countless memorable meals, martinis, and “sips of water,” while also hosting some of her best dinners there. Nana loved going out to eat and clearly knew how to enjoy herself.

That same unmistakable personality could be seen in her sense of style. Nana loved shopping and pocketbooks, but she especially cherished her beloved embellished sweaters, decorated with sparkling details, colorful designs, and just the right amount of flair. She wore them proudly, and each one seemed to reflect her character: warm, distinctive, and impossible to overlook.

At home, Nana took great pride in having a very clean floor and a pristine oven. Her vintage appliances were always described as being, quite simply, “like new.” Perhaps that was partly because she loved eating out so much!

Nana was also very fond of her neighbor, landscaper, and snow plower, Jim Aducci, who kept her yard looking perfect through every season and every New England snowstorm. Jim was always paid fairly—with a case of beer.

When the time eventually came for Nana to move into a nursing home, she seemed to take the transition in stride. In fact, it was almost easy because Nana thought she was at a hotel. Her family is grateful to Braintree Alliance for the excellent care she received.

Above all, Nana will be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, strong opinions, generosity, unmistakable style, and the countless memories she created for the people who loved her.

She leaves behind a family who will miss her dearly and who will undoubtedly continue telling her stories, laughing at her one-liners, admiring every sparkling sweater, and wondering exactly what happened to that inheritance.

Nana lived 101 years—and she made every one of them count. In her honor, take a friend to lunch, order a martini, and maybe you, too, can live to be 101!

Burial services will be private