Doris Klein, 97, of Newtown, beloved mother of Richard Klein, died peacefully November 6 at Masonicare of Newtown. She was born in Newark, N.J., on April 27, 1920, daughter of the late Marina and Laurence Panizza.

Mrs Klein received a liberal arts degree from the New Jersey College for Women (later Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University). She took design courses at the New School in New York City, subsequently working at the department store L. Bamberger & Co., a subsidiary of R.H. Macy, in Newark where she came a senior buyer after World War II. She frequently traveled to Europe in her role as senior buyer for the traditional furniture, lamps, and lighting departments of the company.

She married Frederick W. Klein in 1950, who was also employed by Bamberger. She moved to Westport with her family in 1961, where she became very active in St Luke's Church as a parishioner. She was also active in numerous other organizations in town, including the Westport Historical Society, Westport Arts Council, Y Women of Westport, and Westport Tennis Association. She also served as a member and a term as vice president of the PTA in Westport in the 1960s.

At St Luke's, Mrs Klein was a member of the Church Council and served in the 1980s as a lay Eucharistic minister, bringing the sacraments to homebound church members. In the 1990s, she briefly served as a justice of the peace in Westport, officiating at numerous marriages.

Mrs Klein's passions included gardening, tennis, travel, and theater. She frequently attended performances at the Westport Country Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven.

Her loving son, Richard Klein, and daughter-in-law, Mary Kenealy, of Norwalk survive her.

Services will be private.

To offer an online condolence, visit spearmillerfuneralhome.com.