Dorothy Bjork Obituary

Dorothy (Dottie) Larson Bjork of Branford, CT passed away peacefully at Connecticut Hospice, Branford, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, following her battle with dementia. She was the beloved wife of the late Klas H. Bjork. Dottie was born on January 10, 1940, in New Haven, the daughter of the late Frank and Josephine Swinik Larson. She grew up in New Haven, where she was a member of the Hillhouse High School class of 1957. Dottie went on to attend New Haven State Teachers College and then received her master's degree in Education at Southern Connecticut State College. Dottie was a teacher in the North Branford Public School system and later worked as an instructional aid in Branford for many years before retiring, but spent most of her time raising her children. She was an active member of Tabor Lutheran Church and was the secretary for the Tabor Cemetery Association for many years. She was also involved in the Swedish Aid Society and was the former treasurer of the Order of Runeberg, Lodge 205. Dottie was devoted to her family. She took great pride in supporting her children and grandchildren in everything they did. She attended countless basketball and field hockey games, cross country and track meets, and concerts and musicals. No matter the activity or place, she was always there to support each and every one of them. She also loved to travel, whether skiing in Vermont, going to the beach in Rhode Island, or enjoying the mountains and lakes of New Hampshire. She always enjoyed music, knitting, reading, and watching and cheering for the UConn Huskies men's and women's basketball teams. She is survived by her children, Donna (Tim) Connell and Ken (Christine) Bjork, both of Branford; and her grandchildren, Austin (Carolyn) Connell, Ryan Connell, Kiersten Bjork, and Christian Bjork. She was predeceased by her brother, Frank Larson. A special thanks to her caregiver, Tammie, who was by her side for the past year. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday evening, February 28, from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, and may attend a funeral service on Saturday morning, March 1, at 10:00am at Tabor Lutheran Church, Branford. Burial will follow in Tabor Cemetery. For directions and an online memorial see www.wsclancy.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Tabor Lutheran Church, 45 Tabor Drive in Branford, or Tabor Cemetery, 27 Circle Drive in Branford. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy, please visit our floral store.