Mabel Dorothy McKee

Ledyard - On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, it rained and there was a beautiful rainbow outside Mabel Dorothy McKee's window, it was then the Angels came and took her to heaven. She died peacefully surrounded by her family at Fairview Convalescent Home in Groton.

Dorothy was born in Danbury on April 27, 1917, to the late Joseph and Mabel (Northrup) Woolley, Sr. She was the wife of Sheldon Newman McKee, Sr. who predeceased her on March 11, 1982. As a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society; she graduated from Western Connecticut State University in June 1971, where she earned her teaching certificate and taught in the Danbury school system were she lived. Dorothy moved to Gales Ferry to live with her daughter, Katie and her husband, Joe Pierpaoli. During this time she enjoyed going to the Ledyard Senior Center and was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Every Sunday she and Katie would attend Mass, sit in the same pew and listening to her favorite priest, Fr. Joseph Decosta, until her illness prevented her from attending. She enjoyed playing BINGO, going to the zoo, watching Animal Planet, hiking in the woods, picnics, going to the beach, dolls, stuffed animals and traveling. She has been to Europe, Hawaii, California, and Florida to name a few. Spending time with her family at Sunday dinner was what she cherished the most.

Mabel Dorothy McKee is survived by her five children, Sheldon McKee, Jr. of Danbury, Gloria Hanstein of Englewood, Fla., Katie McKee-Pierpaoli of Gales Ferry, James McKee and Elizabeth McKee both of Washington, Conn.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Joseph Woolley of Englewood, Fla. and her cat and companion, Di Di.

She was predeceased by her 17 year old son, Thomas J. McKee in 1974.

A 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Rte.12, Gales Ferry with a viewing at the church beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will be held on Friday at Elmwood Cemetery in Bethel, Conn. The Church and Allen Funeral Home has been entrusted with these arrangements. The family would like to thank everyone at Fairview for their outstanding love, support and care during Dorothy's time there.