Doris Ann Olson

Doris Ann Caldwell Olson of Bridgeport died Monday October 4 at home. She and her husband, the Reverend John W. Olson, celebrated 54 years of marriage on June 16. Dorie, as everyone called her, owned and operated Sew Be It on the Post Road. in downtown Fairfield for 14 years. There she sold Bernina Swiss sewing machines, fabrics and notions. She was a skilled craftswoman in sewing, knitting, crocheting, needle point, quilting and smocking as well as button-hole making. She was born December 9, 1932, daughter of Paul W. and Katherine Ruth Ohmen Caldwell of New Milford. On September 11 she attended the 60th anniversary of her New Milford High School graduating class. She graduated in 1954 from the University of Connecticut with a major in home economics. Dorie loved to travel. She and her husband camped in many parks around the country with their daughters. She took a number of cruises and several trips to Europe with family and friends. Dorie made sure that holidays and birthdays were celebrated with each and every family member. She made Christmas the most wonderful holiday of the year for all she loved. Dorie's parents and her brother James Caldwell of New Milford predeceased her. Besides her husband, she leaves her three daughters, Karen Ruth Underhill, and her husband, Robert, of Brookfield, Emily M. Fisher, and her husband, Kenneth, of New Milford, Melissa Ann Pionzio, and her husband, John, of East Hampton; four grandchildren, Robert Q. and Lindsay Marie Underhill, of Brookfield and Jennifer Lynn and John Pionzio of East Hampton; one sister Patricia Pitkin, and her husband, of Mohrsville, Pa.; two aunts, an uncle, and many nieces and nephews; and many friends in Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Vermont, and Canada. The funeral service will be held Thursday October 7 at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Christ, North and Laurel Avenues, Bridgeport followed by a reception in Bessemer Hall. The Reverend Douglas Miller, of Fairfield, interim pastor of the Round Hill Community Church, of Greenwich, will be officiating. A private burial service will be held in Center Cemetery, in New Milford. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, of Fairfield Center. The family thanks all those who encouraged Dorie during her illness with their visits, phone calls and letters, including her oncologist Dr. Laurie Harrold, and the Visiting Nurses- Hospice at Home staff, of Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Visiting Nurses Services- Hospice at Home, 40 Lindeman Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611. For Travel directions to the church, or to sign her online guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com.