Dorinda "Dori" Connor

Dorinda “Dori” Connor was born January 15, 1947, at Howard Air Force Base in the Ancon Canal Zone of Panama where her father had been stationed during the war. Eugene and Dorothy Clark took her home to Bendersville, a small town outside of Gettysburg, PA where she grew up with her brother Van. Dori graduated with a degree in music education from West Chester University in 1968 and moved to Delaware. She taught a variety of music and choir courses during her eleven years as a teacher. Back then it was common for arts teachers to bounce back and forth between schools and help where they were needed. As a result, Dori got to enrich the lives of students at Carrie Downie, Wilmington Manor, Pleasantville, MLK JR, Commodore, and Delaware City. She was beloved by her students. For 23 years she worked as a partner with her husband, Bob Connor, solving problems for the 12th Senatorial District of Delaware. Bob passed away on March 7, 1997, and a special election was held later that month for his seat. Dori won the election with 80% of the vote. As a Delaware State Senator, she worked diligently on legislation for Open Government, Nursing Home Reform, Domestic Violence Issues, Minimum Wage, Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft, Public Safety, Citizens with Disabilities, and to stop Human Trafficking. Dori earned the reputation as one of the hardest working senators in the history of the state. Between Bob and Dori, they served the people of Delaware for over forty years. Dori passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2024, after a ten-year battle with Parkinsons. She is survived by her two sons, Brad and Brian. A viewing will be held Friday, July 12, 2024, from 6-9 PM at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, DE 19702. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 801 N. DuPont Hwy., New Castle, DE 19720. Burial will follow at Gracelawn Memorial Park. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the New Castle Senior Center, Att: Natalie Kaplan, PO Box 30, New Castle, DE 19720 or www.newcastleseniorcenter.com. For directions, or to send an online condolence visit www.stranofeeley.com

Dorinda "Dori" Connor

January 15, 1947 - June 30, 2024

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