Doris Marie Stidsen

Doris Marie (Anderson) Stidsen, age 68, of Tolland, joined her parents and brother in heaven and returned home to the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, after a long and courageous battle with the effect of multiple strokes.

She was the daughter of John Henry Anderson, CPA, F&AM, and Otelia (Johnson) Anderson, OES, both of whom predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her brother, the Rev. Kenneth Arthur Anderson, and her brother-in-law, Ronald J. Stidsen. She was born in Worcester, Mass., on the day that Germany signed the Surrender Documents, ending World War II in Europe. Despite many suggestions of being named "Victoria," her parents resisted and gave her the lovely and almost unique name (today) of Doris. She grew up in Worcester, Mass. In her teen years, following her parent's strong Masonic traditions, she was active in Worcester Assembly 9, Order of the Rainbow for Girls, becoming the Worthy Advisor of that assembly while still in high school. She graduated from Classical High School in 1963, in Worcester, Mass., and was honored for her scholastic excellence as the class salutatorian. In 1967, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire, with a degree in elementary education and a minor in Spanish. Shortly after graduation from UNH, she married her high school sweetheart, Carlton A. Stidsen after a nearly seven-year courtship, and moved to Tucson, Ariz., where her husband was then serving in the United States Air Force. In Tucson, she worked for two years as a fourth-grade school teacher with the Tucson school system. Following her husband's release from active duty in 1970, she and her husband moved to Hartford for a year before returning to Arizona following her husband's career assignments. In Phoenix, she worked for the Valley National Bank for two years before the couple returned to Connecticut, this time to stay. She joined the home office staff of Hartford Insurance Group, and started what would become a 25-year career in what was then known as electronic data processing. Her excellent memory, grasp of numbers, and attention to detail were recognized when she was soon was promoted to senior programmer. After several years with The Hartford, she was hired by Hartford National Bank and began her climb to prominence with that bank and its successor organizations - Shawmut Bank, Fleet Bank, Bank of America - and worked in computer programming for each of those companies in turn for nearly 20 years. She retired from the Bank of America in 1997 as an assistant vice president in computer operations. In 1974, Doris and her husband bought a home in what was then a rural part of Tolland, and lived in Tolland for 40 years.

Doris was a faithful and loving wife to her husband of 46 years, retired Major Carlton A. Stidsen, U.S. Air Force Reserves, and a loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews and their respective families from both the Anderson and the Stidsen families. She enjoyed world travel (ocean cruises) with her husband, and camping in local campgrounds with her lifetime best friend, Carolyn Manley, now of Munds Park, Ariz. She and Miss Manley considered themselves sisters and jointly owned a camping trailer, which served as a good release from the pressures of management of computer program development professionals for both of them. She was a beloved member of the Women of the Moose, Vernon Chapter 1360. She also leaves her other sister, Mrs. Jerolyn Wheeler of Windsor Locks, and her many friends from the bank, with whom after retirement she often had lunch with to maintain the friendships and memories of her working years.

In addition to her husband, she leaves her niece and goddaughter, Kathryn Anderson Schmoyer of Doylestown, Pa.; and her nephew, the Rev. K. Michael Anderson of Sacramento, Calif., and their respective spouses and children. She also leaves her cousins, Linda Baliunas, and her husband, Gary, of Brimfield Mass., Gail Brunyac, and her husband, Michael, and family, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Paul Leblanc of Grafton, Mass. She also leaves to mourn her passing her aunt, Astrid Leblanc of Worcester, Mass.; and her cousin, Dr. Robert A. Moller, MD, and his wife, Dr. Regina Moller, MD, of Deep River and their family. She also leaves her cousin, Barbara Johnson Stidsen, and her husband, Henry (himself a cousin of Doris' husband), and their many children and grandchildren. She was also godmother to the late Geoffrey Stidsen; and leaves her niece, Amy Stidsen Sinclair, and her husband, Edward, of Weymouth, Mass.; and nephew, David and Aimee Stidsen and family of Wenham, Mass. She also leaves her sister-in law, Kay Stidsen of Chelmsford, Mass.; brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Hilda Mae Stidsen of Phoenix, Ariz., and their children; niece Virginia Victoria Pickett, and nephew, Eric V. Stidsen, both of Phoenix, Ariz. A special thank you to Dr. Saud Anwar and all of the staff at Rockville Hospital for the wonderful and thoughtful care that they provided to Doris during her final hours.

Her funeral service will be held Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at United Congregational Church of Tolland, 45 Tolland Green, Tolland. After that service, she will be taken to All Faith Cemetery, Worcester, Mass., for a graveside service and interment, there to rest alongside her husband in God's own time, beloved friend, Carolyn, and her brother, with her parents and grandparents also resting nearby. Rest in peace, my beloved wife.

Her family will receive friends Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor. A service from Women's of the Moose Memorial Ritual at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Memorial donations may be made to donor's choice.

For online expressions of sympathy please visit us at

www.carmonfuneralhome.com