Obituary of Dorothea Ann Kiggins

Dorothy P. Kiggins , 101, of Darien, Fairlee VT, and Marco Island FL, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025 at home, surrounded by her family and devoted caregivers.

Known as Dottie, her parents were the late Frank Palmer and Marguerite (Sicilia) Palmer of Stamford, CT. Her father was a successful contractor who built roads and sewer systems for the city of Stamford. He developed much of Shippan Point and built their large family home there, Palmers Isle, where Dottie was raised with her Fourteen brothers and sisters. The home later became the Admiral Benbow restaurant, and the property developed into Yacht Haven and now a large office complex.

She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford in 1941 and during the war worked at the Norma Hoffman ball bearing plant. Later she worked for Conde Nast.

She was a singer her whole life and sang with a big band at Laddins Terrace where she met the love of her life Don Kiggins, an Air Force veteran back from the war. After marriage they moved to Rowayton and started raising their family in a house Don built. As the family grew, he built a larger house in Darien where she lived until her passing.

After her children were grown, she joined her husband in the family business, Rowayton Fuel, where she learned the computer system and did all the data entry. A devoted Catholic, she continued to sing in the choir at St. John Church in Darien until she was in her nineties.

She is survived by three of her sisters: Dolores Biscaglio, Pauline Risley, and Judy Allen, and one of her brothers, Frank Palmer.

She is also survived by her six children: Donna (Michael) Hutcheson and their children, Stacy, Wes, and Andrea; Karen (Wilson) Goff and their children, Patrick, Ian, and Harrison; Lee (Christine) Kiggins and their children, Don III and Elizabeth; Dr. Christopher (Sheila) Kiggins and their children Matthew and Tyler; Mary Ellen Giles and her children Jordan, Hunter, and Alex; Andrew (Amy) Kiggins; and by 24 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years Donald, and by one grandson Wesley Kiggins.

The family will be eternally grateful for her caregiver of seven years, Alicia White, who along with being her companion was also her special friend. The family would also like to thank her wonderful caregivers Joanne, Connie, and Terry; and her team of caregivers from Patience In-Home Care, Toniann and Shantel; and the caregivers of Constellation Hospice including Ian, Nicki, and Carol.

Mass will be held at St. John Church, 1986 Post Rd., Darien on Saturday January 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM with internment to follow at Spring Grove Cemetery.