MIDDLEBURY — With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved mother and grandmother, Dolores  Vesperinas Houser, 92, of The Residence at Otter Creek in Middlebury. She passed away on Sunday, Feb. 28, in the arms of her family.
Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1928, she was the youngest of six children. Lolita possessed a vibrant personality and enjoyed a successful career as a dancer in the theater. She moved to Northern Virginia in 1957, where she raised her three children and worked for many years in Washington, D.C., as an instructor of fitness and aerobics. Upon her retirement in 1993, she joined her family in Manchester, Vt. Lolita truly enjoyed her little house on Cottage Street and found friends with her interest in rug hooking, knitting, sewing, gardening, and painting. She hosted a weekly Parcheesi group and volunteered at the nursing home to teach exercise class and lessons in Spanish.
Lolita was accomplished in all her pursuits and possessed boundless energy to take on any number of projects. During her time in Manchester, she spent hours entertaining her grandchildren and their friends with her lively and engaging character.  Known as Lolita by her family and Jaja by her grandchildren, she left an indelible impression on her community.
Dolores is survived by her three children: Susan Houser and her husband Keith Baptista of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Ronald Houser and his wife Anne of New Haven, Vt.; and Gregory Houser and his wife Jennifer of Eagle, Idaho; and her seven grandchildren, Harley Ware of Los Angeles, Calif.; Esme Baptista of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Riley Houser of Ferrisburgh, Vt.; Emma Houser of Golden, Colo.; Nina Houser of New Haven, Vt.; and Colby Houser and Grace Houser of Eagle, Idaho, in addition to her many nieces and nephews in Madrid, Spain.
A memorial service will be planned during the summer of 2021 in Manchester, Vt. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lolita’s name to Addison County Home Health  and Hospice in New Haven, Vt., from whom she received the very best of care.◊