Dorothy Mattison Nessel

June 6, 1917 – August 8, 2017

Dorothy Nessel died on August 8 following a brief illness at the age of 100.  She was born on a farm in Bruce, Wisconsin, the 2nd of 5 daughters and 1 son to Bertha and Lewis Mattison. She is survived by her son, David Nessel, his wife Judy, a grandson Paul and his wife Anna, 3 step-great grandchildren, John, Robin and Nicholas, a sister Emma Spoolhoff and the love of her life, her great grandson Sawyer Nessel, and in addition, many nieces and nephews.  She was pre-deceased by her husband Irwin Nessel, her granddaughter Amy and her sisters Evelyn, Harriet, Bonnie and her brother Arnold. She completed a program in Interior Design at the New York School of Design and was a licensed interior designer for many years and used those skills to design and decorate several of her homes and well as those of her clients. She had a keen interest in creating, specifically pottery, painting, gardening, and clothing design.  Over the years her paintings were exhibited at several shows in the Westport and the Palm Beach, Florida area. She was a past member of the Stratton Mountain Arts Festival board and the Lighthouse Center for the Arts in Tequesta, Florida. She was proud of her lifelong commitment to philanthropy both here in Connecticut, Florida and Vermont. There will be a memorial service in her memory at Trinity Church, Southport at 11:00 on August 26. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to: The Center for Family Justice, 753 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, Ct. 06610 or Trinity Church, 651 Pequot Avenue, Southport, Ct.06890. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com