For nearly four decades, Dorothy Fredricksen has helped organize an annual pot luck supper for the residents of Stevens Woods in North Haven. She began years ago when her mother lived there, adding a bingo game after dinner a few years later.

“Our women’s group wanted to do something nice for the residents there,” says Dorothy. “Our group is no longer in existence, but the church volunteers continued to volunteer.”

Now Dorothy has decided it is time for her to give up her role of organizing the annual event at the affordable elderly housing complex. When her family heard that Dorothy was stepping down, her daughter Lynn Fredricksen and her daughter-in-law Wendy Fredricksen offered to organize the dinner to keep the tradition going.

“I was delighted that they did that, because I was trying to keep going with it and I’d be really disappointed if we didn’t do this,” says Dorothy, whose brother also lived in Stevens Woods until he passed away in 2014. “It’s a family thing and now—two of my grandchildren go with their mom and help her. They wheel the cart around and give out drinks.”

Dorothy extends credit for the success of the traditional pot luck suppers to the members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in North Haven. More than 20 people volunteered to bring items to the latest supper, which was held on Sept. 14.

“I hope it continues because it’s a feel-good thing that doesn’t take that much effort—a signup sheet at church,” says Dorothy. “People sign up and whatever we’re short, I’ll make something extra.”

In addition to serving supper, Dorothy also began hosting a bingo game after dinner. Throughout the year she would pick up prizes at tag sales to make sure all of the attendees went home with a prize.

“Bingo was the way to go,” says Dorothy. “Everyone really enjoys it.”

Dorothy has volunteered at St. John’s in many capacities over the years. Years ago she was a member of the Episcopal Church Women, the group that originally founded the pot luck suppers at Stevens Woods. The group held fundraisers throughout the year in order to support the church and local organizations such as the food bank and fuel bank.

The Episcopal Church Women also hosted events, including card parties and fashion shows, and took part in the church’s fall fair. It also helped get new furniture for the office when the church hired a new minister and purchased new drapes for the great hall.

“We gave back to the community and replaced different things in the church that were needed,” says Dorothy, who enjoyed her time with the group. “It was nice to know we were helping other people and I made a lot of friends in the group.”

While the group is no longer in existence, Dorothy helps out in other ways at church. Dorothy makes crafts for the Christmas Fair and has been both a chair and co-chair of the Christmas Fair.

Her husband Arthur also volunteers time for the church. Years ago when the church was looking for a fundraiser, Arthur suggested an ice cream social. As the church is raising money for new kneelers, they brought the fundraiser back this year.

“He went to a place in West Haven to buy the ice cream to donate to the ice cream social,” says Dorothy. “He loves ice cream and suggested the social. It’s been a few years since we’ve done one.”

Dorothy and Arthur have lived in three different houses in North Haven over the past 58 years. They moved to town as their children—Alan, Jason, and Lynn—entered school.

“We’ve never been sorry,” says Dorothy. “We like the town and the schools and we’ve been happy with the first selectman over the years. It’s a nice little town.”

Dorothy and Arthur have now been married for 61 years. Over the years they have enjoyed traveling, including cruises and AAA bus tours.

Now that they are growing older with some physical ailments, they enjoy spending time at their vacation home in New Hampshire, especially with their children and five grandchildren, in a town close to where Arthur’s mother was born.

“We’d gone to different places in New Hampshire for many years, so about 20 years ago, we decided to look for our own place,” says Dorothy. “Our place is right on the lake and the kids go out and fish, canoe, kayak, and have a good time.”

With more than six decades of marriage, Dorothy knows that the longevity of their marriage is a rare thing to find. She credits their long-lasting marriage to several factors.

“You don’t see too many people married for 61 years now,” says Dorothy. “We just get along well, we talk things out. We never go to bed angry. We’re a team and we want to be together. We love each other.”