Dolores Lammers-Padwater

July 17, 1937 - December 28, 2020

Dolores Lammers-Padwater of Cromwell, CT passed away on December 28, 2020 from congestive heart failure and related complications. She was 83 years old and is survived by her son Christopher Brian Lammers, and daughter Heather Jill Lammers. Close family was fortunate to be by her side at the time of passing. Dolores was predeceased by her husband Anthony Dennis Padwater in November 2014. Dolores ‘Dee’ was born in Brooklyn New York and raised in Queens County. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Queens College and a Masters in Education from Central Connecticut State University. She had a long and dedicated career teaching Art Education in the Connecticut Public School System. One of the most significant lessons she taught her students, and two children, was the importance of a strong work ethic along with the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from a job well done. Dee would often say ‘If you’re going to do something, you should do it right the first time.’ During her tenure at the Naylor Elementary School, the most exciting time of the year was the Spring Arts Festival. This was the opportunity for Dee to showcase her students’ art projects and creations from the school year. The level of pride was overwhelming when a parent was in disbelief of their own child’s talents and abilities. The words I can’t were not allowed to be used in her classroom. She inspired her students to do their very best and believed every child had the potential for greatness, if only encouraged and given the opportunity. Upon retiring, Dee continued her love of teaching art on cruise ships while traveling around the world. Dee loved to travel and she loved to shop. When she could combine the two simultaneously, she was probably at her happiest. She was also a collector of many things from fine art to entertainment memorabilia. Of course, this means she left behind a lot of stuff the kids get to figure out what to do with! Anyone who knew Dee was familiar with her abilities as a conversationalist. She was comfortable talking to anyone about anything. She could casually extract a strangers’ life history in under ten minutes or chat on the phone for hours just to keep you company on a long drive. Dee was also passionate about making lists for just about everything, like groceries, conversation points, goals for the week. Some lists were fun, like the presents she was going to give out a Christmas, others not so much fun, like the list of chores she needed help with around the house. No matter what, you could always count on a list. One could speculate that, in her younger years, the list was a way to organize her thoughts. As she got older it was the method used to not forget things. Smart Lady! As a dedicated patron of the local public libraries; Dee would regularly enjoy books on tape and took much pride in knowing that if you had a library card there was no fee due at check out. In her honor and memory, donations can be made to the Cromwell Belden Public Library’s General Gift Fund, 39 West Street, Cromwell CT 06416. Although spending the majority of her adult life living and working in Connecticut, Dee never stopped thinking of herself as a New York City Girl. She would say, ‘you can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl’. Let’s hope this next journey has her passing through the Big Apple from time to time. You are loved and will be missed. In Loving Memory. Please share condolences, memories, or photos at Rosehillfuneralhomes.com.