Dolores "Dee" (Goguen) (Burns) Oliver

Dolores “Dee” (Goguen) (Burns) Oliver passed away peacefully on February 13, 2025; she was fortunate to have many family members spend time with her during her last week of life.

Born October 31,1932 in Glen Ullin, North Dakota to the late Anna (Bleth) and Stanley D. Goguen; she moved to Bristol, CT with her family in 1936. She graduated from Bristol High School in 1950. Dee moved to Waterbury, CT in 1979 to be closer to her job and married William “Bill” Oliver in 1984. In 2013, she moved to Newington, CT to reside with her companion, Robert B. Wright. Most recently, Dee settled in Richmond, VA to be near her children and grandchildren (and to escape the Northeast winters).

 Dee worked for Uniroyal Chemical Co. in Middlebury, CT as an Executive Secretary, retiring in 1997. Previously, she was an Administrative Assistant to the Officers of Lombard Brothers in Waterbury, CT and Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Spector Freight in Farmington, CT. 

 A competitor at heart, she loved duckpin bowling and playing cards. Her belief that she always had the opportunity to win also resulted in a love for bingo, scratch-offs and casino slots. Born as a Halloween baby, Dee would always dress up for the local trick-or-treaters to make the holiday festive.

 She leaves two daughters, Kathleen Burns of Little River, SC and Kristine Hazzard and her husband Larry of Glen Allen, VA; her son, Kyle Burns of Aurora, CO, and her daughter-in-law, Veronica Burns of Morelia, Mexico. She leaves four grandchildren, Matthew Hazzard and his wife Ashleigh of Henrico, VA; Sarah Hazzard and her wife Bekah Mumm of Chesterfield, VA; Julie Slivka and her husband Ralph Sergiovanni of Chester, VA and Lily Burns of Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is also survived by her great-grandsons, Declan and Hale Hazzard of Henrico, VA.

 She leaves a sister, Mary Ann Winchell of Wolcott, CT, her stepchildren and their families, Deb and Vin Giannetto of Watertown, CT, Barbara and Carmine (Nino) Solla of Wolcott, CT, as well as two sisters-in-law, Gert Brown of Wolcott, CT, and Eleanor Maiolo of California.

 She was predeceased by her husband of 29 years, William Oliver; her sons Kevin and Kerry Burns; two sisters, Anita Beach and Irene Santos; and her companion of 8 years, Robert Wright.