SHELTON, Conn.—Dorothy (Kish) Sommers, 89, mother of Donna E. Sommers of Kent, died on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. She was born June 26, 1937, in Bridgeport, Conn., to the late Elizabeth (Martin) Kish and Frank Kish.
Dorothy (Dotty) graduated from Roger Ludlowe H.S. in Fairfield, Conn. She married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Sommers Jr. (deceased) on April 26, 1958, and moved to Shelton in 1960 where they raised three daughters and one son: Donna, Gwen D. Hendrix (deceased) and her husband Wayne of Oxford; Joseph Sommers III and his wife Beth of Hampton, NH; and Claire Loerch of Lake Frederick, Va.
In addition to her children, Dotty is also survived by seven grandsons—Darrell Ayer, Dwayne Ayer (Holly), Howard O’Dell, Tyler Sutherland, Spencer Sutherland, Parker Shubert (Hope) and Joseph F. Sommers as well as four great grandchildren.
Dorothy was a secretary for the Shelton Board of Education at Mohegan Elementary School for 19 years. She loved spending time with her grandsons while they were growing up and thoroughly enjoyed traveling the world.
Dotty and Joe rode their motorcycles cross country three times including once through Canada. Dotty was a racing enthusiast—from working on the pit crew for her son Joe, during his racing days, to watching races in person and on tv. She was well known for remembering friends’ and family’s important dates by sending them a card to help them celebrate. She always had a camera at the ready to capture the moment.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Make a Wish Foundation
Calling hours will take place on Tuesday September 8, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Larson Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield. Internment will immediately follow at Lawncroft Cemetery, Fairfield.
For travel directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.LarsonFH.com.
