TORRINGTON — Dorothy L. (Schilke) Taggett, formerly of Waterbury and Naugatuck, passed on peacefully to the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. She was the beloved wife of the late Carl Taggett.

Dorothy was born June 20, 1931, daughter of the late Oscar and Olga (Schlosser) Schilke in Beacon Falls, CT. During her early life, she sang on W.A.T.R. radio, danced at Radio City Music Hall, and made first runner up in a beauty pageant. She was formerly employed by Lewis Engineering in Naugatuck before meeting her husband, Carl. She and Carl lived in Naugatuck for 28 years, and raised four children in their New Haven Road home. Upon her husband`s retirement from the Naugatuck Police Dept., they started Connecticut Investigation and Security Agency where she retired as President. In 1991, Carl and Dorothy purchased the Stoddard Farm in Waterbury where they resided for several years.

Dorothy was also a former member of the C.A.L.P.A. and the National Association of Chiefs of Police. Her love of painting and drawing was only exceeded by her love of animals and reading books, her favorite being crime stories.

She was a very loving and devoted mother to all of her children, and always made everyone laugh with her witty sense of humor. She was also an avid Red Sox fan.

Survivors include Robert F. and Frances Taggett of Apple Valley Farm in Woodbury, Peg Taggett and her husband, Sam Spatafore, of Naugatuck, Marion and Phil Hicks of Torrington, with whom she made her home, and Carol Anne Taggett of Waterbury, as well as grandsons Carl R. Taggett and wife Jessica Buckingham of Thomaston, Robert J. Taggett and wife Theresa of Woodbury, great-grandson Charles Buckingham Taggett, and great-granddaughter Olivia Buckingham Taggett.

Besides her late husband, Carl C. Taggett, she was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Elizabeth Taggett, and a son, Matthew Michael Taggett.

The Taggett family would like to thank Dr. Green and Dr. Kresell and the 4th Floor staff at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital for their care and compassion. Also, our gratitude to Nurse Lydia and Nurse Judy Osborne for all your love, support and understanding towards our mother and to AMR Ambulance of Waterbury, Campion Ambulance of Torrington, the Waterbury Fire Department, Highland Avenue Division, and VNA of Torrington for their kindness.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family with arrangements by Cook Funeral Home, in Torrington.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dorothy to the Connecticut Humane Society. Condolences can be sent to the Taggett family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com