In Memory of Dolly Varland

In loving memory of our mother, Dolly, we are establishing the 'Dolly and Paul Varland Foundation.' This foundation honors their shared lifelong commitment to helping others and strengthening our community.

The 'Dolly and Paul Varland Foundation' is dedicated to supporting education and medical research. We aim to provide scholarships to deserving students and fund vital research in neurology, heart disease, and cancer. Our approach is personal and community-driven, focusing on small-scale grants and partnerships with local educational and research bodies.

As a family-run foundation, we cherish community involvement and building personal relationships. Our initiatives will be funded through family contributions, community fundraising, and the generosity of like-minded individuals and organizations.

We pledge that 100% of your donations will directly support the causes close to Dolly's heart, carefully chosen and overseen by us. We are in the process of obtaining our 501(c)(3) status. Once approved, we will inform all our donors, as future contributions will be tax-deductible.

Your support in carrying forward Dolly's legacy of kindness and service means the world to us.

Thank you,

Scott and Lynn

Dolly's Obituary

Dorothy "Dolly" Jo Varland, a beacon of strength, service and love, passed away on January 22nd in Southport, Connecticut, surrounded by her loving children, Scott and Lynn. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 26th, 1946, to Eugene and Dorothy Rose, both Army veterans, Dolly was a bright spark from the start. She grew up alongside her older brother Mike and younger siblings Tom and Peggy in a close-knit, working-class family.

A meticulous and dedicated student, Dolly's journey led her to Ohio State University, where she pursued two degrees in education and crossed paths with her future husband Paul Varland, a dental student. The couple married in 1970 in Columbus, Ohio, embarking on adventures and cherishing life together before welcoming their son in the blizzard of January 1978 and their daughter in October 1980.

The Varland family resettled in Cincinnati in 1983, a move that saw Paul join his father Curt and brother Tom at the family’s business, Varland Metal Service. Dolly returned to work, committing herself to help school systems in underserved communities. Her most cherished role was with the GRADS program at the Great Oaks Institute, where she aided pregnant and parenting high school students in their unique and challenging educational journey. Over her 30 years of service within the school system, Dolly supported scores of vulnerable young people with dignity, compassion and dedication.

Dolly nurtured a life-long love of travel, spending weeks each summer on the rocky coasts of Maine and Key West. She also faced life's challenges with unwavering strength. After the sudden loss of her beloved husband Paul in 2004, followed by her brother Tom, Dolly rose through her grief to serve as a steadfast and loving pillar for her family.

Fate smiled on Dolly again when she met Mark Guidry, her companion for eight years, in a chance encounter on a return flight from the Virgin Islands. Their bond and shared love for travel, nature and music enriched Dolly's life until Mark's passing in 2020. Mark was instrumental in overseeing Dolly’s medical care after her diagnosis with Lewy Body Dementia in 2017, and Scott and Lynn will always be grateful to the Guidry family for sharing the blessing of his life.

In her final years, Dolly battled her illness with grace, moving to Connecticut to be closer to her children and granddaughter. Even in the final stages of the disease, Dolly never lost her sense of humor or her enjoyment of music and good food.

Dolly leaves behind a legacy of love, service in education, and an indelible memory in the countless lives she touched. She is survived by her son, Scott, his wife Becky and daughter Sydney; her daughter, Lynn, her partner Todd, and their beloved dog, Mo; her siblings and their children; and a community of friends and students whose lives she forever changed.