Dorothy Taggart

Dorothy Brehant Taggart, fondly known as "Dottie", left her earthly residence of 101 years to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She passed away at her home on Sunday, October 5, 2025, with her loving family by her side. Dottie was born on April 17, 1924, in Hebron, CT, the daughter of the late Frederick and Ethel (Rogers) Brehant. She grew up in Hebron and attended school there. Dottie married her beloved husband, Robert Joseph Taggart, whom she met when they were both living in Hartford. The couple settled in Columbia where they made their home and raised their son, Dan. "Joe" predeceased her on April 16, 1996. She earned her Bachelor's degree from the Willimantic State Teachers College, now Eastern Connecticut State University, and her Master's Degree in English Literature from The University of Hartford. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the honor society in education. Following in her mother's footsteps, she had a long and successful career as a teacher at the Horace W. Porter School in Columbia, CT. A strict teacher with a no-nonsense approach, her focus was on learning. She took a keen personal interest in her students, many of whom contacted her over the years to acknowledge the positive impact she had on their lives. She was also known for her elaborate school plays that created lasting memories. Dottie was a woman of strong faith. Throughout her life, she delighted in singing in the church choir. She sang at the First Congregational Church of Hebron, the Columbia Congregational Church, the Goshen Hill Congregational Church and most recently as a member of the Gilead Congregational Church. She was also a member of the Voices in Praise vocal group. Particularly in retirement, she was active in church and in local affairs. Among the church projects, during her tenure as church Historian of the First Congregational Church of Hebron she initiated the replacement of the footstone monument of the Reverend Doctor Benjamin Pomeroy, a noteworthy yet overlooked pastor of the church in the 1700s. She coordinated the restoration and relocation of the World War II Observation Post. That building was located on church grounds and had been used as a storage facility. It is now a museum in the center of Hebron. For that effort Dorothy was made an honorary member of the Rosie The Riveter Society. Dottie enjoyed time with her friends in the Original Hebron Women's Club, of which she was secretary. She belonged to the Pumptown Quilters. She was a member of the Daughters of the British Empire, Brittania Chapter and served as Regent. In Hebron, she also served as a voter registrar at the polls on election day. A Renaissance person, Dottie enjoyed gardening, and practiced many arts and crafts. Among them were quilting, painting, spinning yarn, playing piano, autoharp and Celtic harp; and most noteworthy, writing poetry. She self-published a book of her poems, entitled Flowers in the Grass. Several of her poems appeared in local publications and in Ideals magazine. Each year at Christmas she would gift a poem to friends, in the form of a laminated bookmark/ornament. Her life was well-lived, and her longevity a testimony to her energy, resolve and sense of purpose. She was proud of her heritage, home, community, and especially her family. She will be sadly missed but always remembered with love by all who knew her. She leaves her son and his family, Daniel E. Taggart and his wife, Beverly of Lebanon, their children Daniel E. Taggart Jr. and his wife, Renee Scott Taggart of Amston, Andrew R. Taggart and his wife Katherine Cipriano Taggart of Wolcott; her great grandchildren, Kyla Scott, Fiona and Alana Taggart. She also leaves a sister, Winifred Chase of Willimantic. She is predeceased by sisters Barbara Burks, Bertha Fontaine and her brother Fred Brehant. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 10th, at 10:30 AM beginning with a celebration of Dottie's life at the Gilead Congregational Church, 672 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT 06248. Following the church service, a brief burial service will be held at Peter's Cemetery, Church Street, Hebron. Immediately following the burial, a reception will follow at the Gilead Congregational Church. Donations in Dottie's memory may be made to the Gilead Congregational Church. The Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home of Colchester has been entrusted with care of arrangements. For online condolences or to share a story of Dottie for her family, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy Taggart, please visit our floral store.