Dora Jean Taylor's Obituary
Dora Jean Taylor (née Pitman) ("DJ") died peacefully on April 16, 2025, at Brandywine Senior Living Memory Care in Rehoboth, DE, a week after her 98th birthday. DJ was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Foster Taylor of Westfield, NJ, and her brothers, James Pitman and Robert Pitman.
DJ was a multi-tasker before the term even existed: she was a devoted wife and mother. She kept house and cared for her family, as well as the numerous dogs and cats she loved. She also worked as her husband's business manager and bookkeeper once he established his own electrician business. DJ furthered her education while her children were in college, receiving her A.A. degree in 1970 from Union County College, her B.A. degree in History in 1972 from Douglass College, and her Master’s in Library Science with a focus on Children’s Literature in 1973 from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Library Science.
After completing her studies, she worked for many years as a librarian at the Westfield Memorial Library. Following her retirement in 1992, she began volunteering at the Fanwood, NJ, Public Library.
Dora Jean was born in Schenectady, NY, in 1927 to parents James Baldwin and Florence Stella Pitman. In her youth, she moved frequently across the United States as the family followed her father’s career as an electrical engineer building hydroelectric power plants in New York, Wisconsin, Montana, Washington State, and California. DJ inherited her resilience and determination from her mother, whom she often credited with handling the hard work of moving, managing households, navigating school systems, and raising her and her two brothers.
After attending high school in Torrance, CA, and graduating from Massena High School in New York State, DJ enrolled in business college in Boston, MA. While there, she met and fell in love with her future husband, Thomas Foster Taylor (1926–2003), a U.S. Navy Seaman on leave from active duty patrolling the North Sea.
Dora Jean and Tom married and, after WWII, settled in Elizabeth, NJ, near Tom's new employment at Westons. They raised two children, Thomas James and Carol Jean, in their new home in Westfield, NJ.
In their retirement, DJ and her husband enjoyed traveling to attend Naval ship reunions. After Tom's passing in 2003, DJ loved vacationing on Cape Cod with her daughter Carol and touring the National Seashore with Carol and Sue. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her son Tom and traveled to Minnesota with her daughter-in-law Sue to study black bears with renowned biologist Dr. Lynn Rogers, observing wild bears in the Superior National Forest.
In 2007, DJ moved to an independent living facility to be closer to her daughter, where she lived a full life until her needs changed and Carol became her caregiver. Carol retired in 2014, and DJ accepted the invitation to join Carol and Sue at their new home in Milton, DE, where she enjoyed day trips, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, and reading. Reading—from light-hearted detective series to serious physics textbooks—was her favorite pastime. She was often reading three or four books at the same time!
DJ is survived by her daughter, Carol Jean Taylor, and Carol's wife, Susan Stringfield; her son, Thomas James Taylor, and his fiancée, Lisa Sherwin; her former daughter-in-law, Penelope Ward; and her grandchildren, Natasha Wozniak (Michael), Kijrstin Vargas (Antonio), Emily Greco (Christopher), and Thomas Hewitt Taylor and four great grandchildren.
DJ was blessed to have such a loving family and cherished the many visits from her grandchildren and their children.
With her pleasant demeanor and unique sense of humor, DJ will be dearly missed. She will be remembered by family at a private memorial gathering to be planned in the future.
For those wishing to pay tribute, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to your favorite animal shelter or library in remembrance of DJ's love of animals and books.
Please sign the tribute wall located on this website.
What’s your fondest memory of Dora?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dora?
Share a story where Dora's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dora you’ll never forget.
How did Dora make you smile?