Ridgefield's Welcome Lady, Dee Strilowich, 80, has Died

Ridgefield's beloved "Welcome Lady" Dee (Delores) Strilowich, 80, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. She was the loving wife of the late Joseph A. Strilowich Jr.

The owner of Personal Touch Welcome, Dee knocked on 10,642 doors in Ridgefield and Redding bringing good tidings to newbies and before deciding to retire and hand the reins over to Christine Santori and her fiancé David Saunders in December of 2019.

Personal Touch Welcome, the brainchild of Dee Strilowich and her husband Joe, was born after the Welcome Wagon discontinued in-home visits in 1998. "My husband, Joe, and I decided the service was so important to have new families be introduced to our wonderful community and it’s small businesses that we decided to start our own greeting service, naming it Personal Touch Welcome," Dee told HamletHub a few years back.

Upon retiring (after Joe's passing) and handing the business over to David and Christine, Dee said to me, "Joe is smiling down from heaven today." Now, you are both smiling together. 

Thank you, Dee, for your love, generosity and contagious smile. You left an indelible mark on our community. Memorable were your holiday visits to Ridgefield businesses, homemade fudge in hand. You will be missed.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced.