Dorothy "Dottee" M. Todd

Hampton - Dorothy “Dottee” M. Todd (Dalzell) of Hampton, NH passed on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, surrounded by her family following a brief illness. Born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, on May 4, 1938, Dottee was the daughter of Harrison H. and Vivian M. (Webber) Dalzell. Before moving to Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1947, Dottee lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, attending the Brickett School. Dottee followed her cousins to Newburyport High School graduating in 1955 and attended Brooks College in Boston the ensuing year. Dottee married her high school sweetheart, Starr, on April 19, 1959, whom she met at a dance in the Rowley Town Hall in May 1951. Starr commented, “If I did not ask that shy young girl sitting in the corner to dance, I would have been really mad at myself” – he was 15 and she was just 13. Starr was drafted into the U.S Army two days before their wedding day. His tour took him to Karlsruhe, Germany, where Dottee joined him soon after. During this “long honeymoon” Dottee and Starr were able to travel to many European countries. They eventually settled in Hampton, New Hampshire in 1962, where they raised a son, Bradley, and a daughter, Janet. Following a hotel/motel course Dottee and Starr bought the “Mayflower” on Hampton Beach in May 1976 and opened the Mayflower Inn Bed and Breakfast that summer. Dottee ran her business seasonally into the early 1990’s before scaling down to only having a few longtime guests/friends continue to spend their vacations at her B & B. Then on to her next adventure – Todd Farm Antiques & Flea Market. As a prize winning baker Dottee ran the “Only on Sunday Cafe” with her daughter located in the farmhouse at Todd Farm during the 1994 & 1995 seasons. But, this was not Dottee’s first stint running “the kitchen”. It began back in 1973 when her father-in-law, Pate, asked her if she would be willing to make baked goods and sandwiches to be available to shopkeepers and customers alike. Again in 2007, Dottee ran the cafe during the Sunday flea markets from a food trailer in the field retiring in 2019. As late as last season shoppers and vendors continued to nag her to reopen the trailer to once again sell her delicious cakes and pastries. All she could say was, “I’m in my eighties and am needed on the field”. Dottee could be found each and every Sunday greeting vendors and customers (many by name) at the entrance with most knowing her by name too. Dottee loved to enter baking (pie) contests, and was honored when she won – which was often. Most notedly, Dottee, at the urging of her mother-in-law, Mary, entered the Liberty Tree Mall’s Mother’s Day Pie Contest in May of 1975. Her apple pie took 1st place out of 109 entries and won $100. Starr later said, “I cannot afford to eat a piece of this pie as each piece is worth about $10”. Dottee was a member of her church for over 60 years. She was a member of the womens’ guild, taught Sunday school, worked in God’s Baby Closet, and ran the annual Calendar Party and fashion show several times. Dottee joined The Winnicummet Rebekah Lodge of Hampton in the early sixties and remained a member up until her passing. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husband Starr P. Todd, brother Richard H. Dalzell, mother and father-in-law Mary (Keyes) and F. Payson Todd, brother and sister-in-law Robert S. and Joyce “Dede” Todd and longtime friend Beverly Eastman. Dottee is survived and will be very much missed by her son Brad Todd and his wife Karen Parks of Dover, NH, daughter Janet Todd, her partner Garry Williams and her daughters, Laurel and Lindsay Miller of Hampton, NH. Dottee’s granddaughters were her pride and joy. Dottee is also survived by her brother Stuart and his wife Kay Dalzell, sister-in-law Frances Dalzell, brother and sister-in-law Frank P. (Shirley) Todd, several nieces and nephews, longtime friend Janet Edward and a host of close friends. A Celebration of Life Service is planned for Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 11AM in the First Congregational Church of Hampton, 127 Winnacunnet Road, Hampton, New Hampshire. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Congregational Church of Hampton by clicking here.

Dorothy "Dottee" M. Todd

May 4, 1938 - April 2, 2025