Dora Puglia Williams, 63, a resident of Greenwich, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 13, after a long and fiercely fought battle with cancer. She was born on April 4, 1958 in Limina, Italy to the late Sebastiano and Giovanna Puglia. She immigrated to the United States with her family in 1966. Dora was raised in Rye Brook, NY and graduated from Port Chester High School in 1977. She went on to study at Fordham University, graduating with degrees in English and Italian. She began her career at Ceramiche Piemme in Manhattan, later continuing her work at Greenwich Health Association. After raising her children, Dora pursued graduate work in education, and began a second career as a teacher of Italian at Greenwich High School. Much beloved by her students, she was known for her warmth and enthusiasm in the classroom, her love for the city of Florence, and her work in bringing AP Italian to Greenwich High School. Inspired by and devoted to her students, Professoressa Williams continued to teach despite the challenges of her illness. Her love of music led her to join the Saint Michael’s Church Choir as a soprano. She was a proud member of the Greenwich community, serving many years on the Town of Greenwich RTM and Greenwich PTA.
Mrs. Williams is survived by her devoted husband Christopher and her beloved sons Ronald and Daniel, all of Greenwich, CT. She is also survived by her brother Joseph; sisters Maria, Nancy, and Anna; brothers-in-law Philip, Natale, and Vincent; uncle Philip; as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins, grandnephews, and grandnieces.
Visitation was Thursday, Sept. 16 at Craft Memorial Home, Inc., Port Chester, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial took place Friday, Sept. 17 at Saint Paul Catholic Church, Greenwich. Interment followed at Greenwood Union Cemetery, Rye, NY.
Donations in memory of Dora Williams may be made to the International Myeloma Foundation. (myeloma.org)
