Dora Alicia Nolan

NORTH CANAAN — Dora Alicia Nolan, 65, died Sept. 17, 2014, in North Canaan.Dora was born in Lima, Peru, to her Swiss parents, Arnold and Marguerite Derrer, on Oct. 17, 1948. At age 3 she moved to Zurich, Switzerland. Her father was a chef and hotel executive. Her mother was a corporate executive assistant and worked in the World Trade Center before her retirement. When she was 9, the family moved to New York City, where Dora attended The Garden School, graduating in 1966. She enjoyed writing, tennis and figure skating. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French (with honors) from New York University (studying in Paris her junior year). She worked as an editorial assistant for Condé Nast, taught French at a private school in Manhattan and opened her own interior design business. She married J. Keith Nolan in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1971. In 1973 they purchased a second home in North Canaan, which became their permanent residence. They had two children, Eric and Alexandra Nolan.A warm and engaging free spirit, Dora spent seven years living on the island of St. Croix, where she taught French at a private school and English at Hess Refinery. She returned to Connecticut in 2000 with her red doberman, Jasper. She had a love for teaching and worked for Housatonic Valley Regional High School, the Southern Berkshire School District and The Hotchkiss School as a substitute in her final years. She enjoyed spending her weekends selling antiques and fine jewelry. She was always on the hunt for rare finds. Dora is survived by her son, Eric Connor Nolan, and grandson, Connor Kai Nolan, of Sacramento, Calif.; her daughter, Alexandra Nolan, of Manhattan; her former husband, Keith Nolan, of North Canaan; and her cousin, Rudolph E. Buri of Zurich, and his children. She will be deeply missed by her family, including her dog, Tallulah, and grandog, Remington of New York City.Dora was a deeply spiritual person and will be remembered fondly for her warm heart, love of animals, beautiful spirit and lovely green eyes. May she be forever at peace.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, RR 2 No. 32 Clifton Hill, Kingshill, VI 00850 (www.stcroixawc.org) or the Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201.Condolences may be left in Dora’s online guestbook at www.dora.nolan.muchloved.com.A nondenominational memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lime Rock on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., the Rev. Heidi Truax officiating. A reception will follow. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Trinity Episcopal Church.

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