Former Bermuda resident Dorothy “Dottie” O’Hara has died at the age of 91.

Born in Philadelphia, Mrs O’Hara moved to the Island after her husband was stationed at the US Naval Base in 1943 as the result of a lucky coin toss. While on the Island, the family lived in Cedar Hurst on Evans Bay, Southampton, where they gave birth to their first daughter. They left the Island after the Second World War ended, but returned more than 30 times in the subsequent years until age made the journey from Seattle difficult.

Her family described her as a loving and devoutly Catholic woman who still considered Bermuda home long after she left it.

Her son, Brian O’Hara, said despite having 13 children, Mrs O’Hara made all of her children feel special. “I felt like I was an only child, only with 12 brothers and sisters,” he said. “She just made sure that we all got that attention. She was a spectacular woman.”

Mr O’Hara, the chairman of Frontstreet Advisors Ltd, said he made the decision to come to the Island as an adult because his mother had spoken so much about Bermuda.

“She just loved Bermuda,” he said. “They lived in just the most beautiful place. There was nothing else there at the time. Life was idyllic. They both fell in love with Bermuda, and I kept hearing about it and I fell in love with it in my mind.”

She is survived by husband of 73 years John “Jack” O’Hara, her 13 children, 40 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.