Obituary of Aldora Frances Tovo (Doly) Watt

Age 89, passed away suddenly on January 9, 2021. She was preceded in death by parents Jerome and Mary Ethel Tovo, brother Jerry, ex-husband Rev. Charles Watt, and sister-in-law Nancy Watt. She is survived by sister Clara (John) Caldwell, sister-in-law Janet Tovo (Michael Gritz), brothers-in-law Robert (Ann) Watt, James (Esther) Watt, Paul Watt, Donald (Marilyn) Watt, sister-in-law Yasuko Watt, sons Chuck (Laurel) and David (Michelle Mailloux), daughters Peg Watt-Morse (Peter) and Becca Watt (Max Thomas), grandchildren Ian Villa-Watt (Priscilla), Andrew Watt, Anna Grace Watt-Morse, Emma Watt, Mary Ellen Watt-Morse, Lydia Watt, Jacob Watt-Morse, Paul Watt-Morse, Ethan Thomas, and Lewis Thomas, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends. Aldora was born at home on February 14, 1931 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. At a young age, her sister gave her the nickname Doly. She was in high school with Arnold Palmer and Fred Rogers. She trained as a nurse, becoming an RN at Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing and had completed two years at PITT when she married, losing her scholarship as a result. She started as a clergy spouse in Braddock PA and had three children at Magee Hospital and then moved from her beloved Western Pennsylvania to Saint Louis, Missouri where she lived for forty-three years. Along the way she raised four children, became a lifelong Cardinals fan, was a leader in cub scouts and the PTA, became a preschool teacher in the inner city, and was an environmental activist. Walking the banks of Deer Creek and documenting its pollution sources, she started a clean-up that eventually resulted in fish returning to the stream. She returned to the nursing profession and worked as a family planning nurse in inner city St. Louis. In her forties, she finished her Bachelor's degree at Webster University and went on to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. During her time in Saint Louis, she became a well-loved professional in Pediatrics serving impoverished communities as well as a force of nature in family planning care and social justice activism. She was instrumental in keeping an outpatient center of St. Luke's Hospital in inner city St. Louis when the bulk of the hospital moved to the suburbs. She worked there for almost 20 years. After retiring, she returned to Pittsburgh to be closer to grandchildren and her steel town roots. She wasted little time in becoming active in her church, her community, and regional politics. She was a poll worker for more than 10 years. She was a proud Presbyterian, a lover of music, an avid gardener, a neighborhood fixture beloved by all, and a big fan of all things Saint Louis and Western Pennsylvania. She was quick with a song for every occasion and could recite the Gettysburg Address, the preamble to the Constitution or the Cremation of Sam McGee. If you were from St. Louis, she made sure you knew there was a "Pawn Shop on the Corner in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania." If you were from Pittsburgh, she made sure you knew that "When Louie came home to the flat and hung up his coat and his hat... (He better) Meet Me in St Louis Louie, Meet me at the Fair." She adored her children and was very proud of them. Her grandchildren were her great pride and joy, something she never failed to tell them or her neighbors. She was proud of their accomplishments, their sense of justice but mostly that they were nice people. She loved the stars, flowers, birds, butterflies, music, people of all colors and genders and the Lord. Her deep Faith brought her great Joy which she shared with all. The children and adults of her neighborhood have created a memorial on her front steps. People talk about her as a female version of Fred Rogers in that "after you talk to her, you feel a little lighter." A virtual live-stream memorial will take place at 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 16, 2021 (http://www.sixthchurch.org/a-witness-to-the-ressurection-aldora-watt/). More information and condolences at www.mccabebrothers.com. Donations in her memory can be made to the Sixth Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh and Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.