Doris Therese Lothrop

Doris Therese Lothrop died Saturday, August 31st, 2024, of natural causes, after a brief stay at The Pillars Hospice Home in Oakdale, Minnesota. She was 90 years old. Doris was born September 28th, 1933, in Somersworth, New Hampshire, the daughter and second child of Alberta and Joseph LaBrecque.

Doris lived a long life full of good health, family, travel and meaningful work experiences. She was an elegant lady who was loved by all. Her boundless energy, enthusiasm and adventuresome spirit was infectious and delighted all she met. Doris took a genuine interest in people and had many lifelong friends. She was raised in a French-Canadian bilingual household and her early years in small town Somersworth revolved around family, church, and community where she would walk to school as a young girl. She was close to her siblings and worshiped her father, Joe.

As a young woman, she attended Macintosh College in Rochester, New Hampshire, and received a business associate degree. Later, she went to work for James Lothrop who managed a family furniture store in Dover. There she met her life partner, Scott Lothrop, James’ younger brother, and the two married in 1956.

Doris and Scott began their family in Florida where they adopted their first child, David, then moved and settled in Lexington, Massachusetts, and had two more boys, Jack and Bill. Doris loved being a mother, wife and neighbor. She had a flair for entertaining, home decorating and was known for her gourmet cooking. Doris loved the seaside and spent many summers on Wells Beach, ME, first as a child with her parents and siblings and then later with her own family in a cottage on the beach.

Doris and Scott moved frequently; 6 states total, 3 times within one town. If this wasn’t enough, Doris went back to work once the children were in school and had long careers in the dental field and college admissions. Doris moved with Scott to St. Paul, Minnesota, then briefly to Troy, New York, before returning to St. Paul to finish up her working life, retiring in 1995. She spent 22 years in Massachusetts and 12 years in Minnesota before retiring to Tampa, Florida for 12 years, with 5 years in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and 10 years back in St. Paul to be close to the grandchildren.

When they weren’t busy with work and family, Doris and Scott traveled the world visiting 92 countries collecting a lifetime of memories. Doris had an active religious life. A devoted Catholic, she lived and raised her family on practical Christian values.

Doris was predeceased by her parents; brother, Fernand; and husband, Scott.

She is survived by sister, Joan Nesbit and brother, Normand “Butch” (Delores) LaBrecque, both of Somersworth. In addition to her three boys; David of Hope, Maine, Jack of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Bill of St. Paul; she has five grandchildren; Tango (Aela Johnson) Lothrop, Alex Lothrop, Elise Lothrop, Joe Lothrop, and Anna Lothrop, as well as two loving daughters-in-law, Shelley Peterson and Christy Lothrop; as well as in-laws, nieces, nephews, many cousins and friends, in the US and in Canada, whom she dearly treasured and had a gift for staying in touch with.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at The Pillars in Oakdale who made the last days of her life as calm, comfortable, and peaceful as one would hope for.

A memorial will be held for family and friends in Minnesota at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center: 2520 N Dale St., Roseville, MN 55113 on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, at 4:15pm. A funeral and burial will be held in August 2025 in Dover, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor can be sent to an organization of your choice. Doris donated monthly to several charities, some of which were the ASPCA, American Red Cross, VFW, Franciscan Missions, and Minnesota Public Radio.