Dorothy "Nana Dot" Brown

The world lost a true warrior when Dorothy A. Brown’s giving heart finally came to rest on August 10, 2026. She approached every challenge in life with unmatched strength, fighting until her very last breath.

Dorothy, known by many as Nana Dot, Dottie or Dot, was born in Peterborough, NH on January 19, 1938, a daughter of James and Marion Lorette.

Dot had worked at Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc for over 30 years, where she started in the shipping and receiving and later moving to the sales department. Also, she worked for several years at the Milford Pizza Hut, where she loved to serve the “all you can eat buffet”. Additionally, Dot had owned and operated the Corner Luncheonette in Milford for two years, before her retirement.

For 55 years, Dorothy made her home in Mont Vernon alongside the love of her life, Ray, where together they raised their blended family of 12 children. Their home was always an open door, where everyone who walked into their house felt welcome with open arms, a big hug, and the feeling that they belonged. Over the years, some children came into their home and simply never left. However, she also knew what trouble each one of these children was getting into from her police scanner and she would make sure you knew how she felt about your choices. Dot had a way of making people feel like family- and once you were family, you were always family.

For Dot, family wasn’t just something you were born into- it was something you built, welcomed, cherished and loved with your whole heart. From the days gathering at Baboosic Lake when her children were young, to backyard get-togethers filled with laughter, and even the annual family reunions were something she looked forward to with joy. She cherished having everyone together and loved nothing more than seeing the people she loved all in one place, making memories.

Some of her happiest moments were when she was surrounded by family, gathered around a table playing cribbage, Yahtzee and other favorite card games. Poker nights were especially memorable and were not for the faint of heart. You better have your quarters ready- and be prepared to leave with fewer than you came with! Let’s not even get started about Dot at the bingo halls.. those games were taken very seriously- and heaven help any of her grandchildren who thought they were going to make art with Nana Don’t’s bingo daubers. Those bad boys were off-limits! And apologies for any blown ear drums from sitting near Dottie during the annual penny sales. For if her numbers weren’t being called, you can bet she was shouting, ‘shake them up!’

Nana Dot took great pride in knitting slippers for her family. Once everyone had accumulated more slippers than they knew what to do with, she found a new purpose for her knitting needles. She began making tiny baby slippers for new mothers welcoming little ones through Our Place, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, as well as for the Welcome Baby Bags provided to families in Milford, NH, where Dorothy spent the final years of her life.

Dot shared her love in one of the most familiar ways- through food. She enjoyed cooking for the people she loved and would never let anyone leave her home with an empty stomach. A sleepover at Nana Dot’s for the grandchildren came with one guarantee: French toast in the morning. Holidays were filled with her famous stuffed shells, homemade fudge, and trail mix, all made with love and eagerly anticipated by her family. These familiar tastes and traditions will be deeply missed, but the memories they created will live on forever.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Kristen, Corinne, Noela, Pamela, Sheila, Amanda, Betsy, and Laura, the hospice nurse and the aids from Home, Health and Hospice who supported Nana Dot with unwavering love and compassion during her final days.

She is survived by her children, Frank Calderara, Gina Bent, James Calderara, Raymond Brown, Tammy Savoy, Joseph Brown, Susan Lesmerises, Allan Brown, Lorie Clark, Gay Flemming, Dawn Robinson, 26 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, two sisters, Eva Cheever and Phyllis O’Donnell, and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.

Dot was predeceased by the love of her life, Merton ‘Ray’ Brown, her son Ronald Merton Brown, her parents, James and Marion Lorette; her siblings James Lorette, Robert Lorette, Ralph Lorette, Fred Lorette, Joseph Lorette, Francis Lorette, Elenor Batchelder, and Joan Blanchard.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, August 16th from 3:00pm-7:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 17th at 10:00am in the St. Lawrence Church, 1 East Union Street, Goffstown, NH. Burial will be in South Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Lyndeborough, NH. A celebration of her life will follow from 1:00-5:00pm at the Harley Sanford Post #4368 VFW,1 VFW Way, Milford. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Our Place Catholic Charities New Hampshire, 16 Oak Street, Manchester, NH 03104 or to Home, Health and Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054 .