Elma "Dolly" R. Bissen

Elma “Dolly” R. Bissen, 93, died peacefully on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at home. Elma was born in Sanford, Florida to Edward J. Smith and Elma Hochstrasser Smith. She met and married Charles J. Bissen in Sanford, and then they relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida in 1963. Elma was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Pierce. She moved to Lake County in 2009 to be close to her daughters after Charles passed away. She loved her family and devoted her life to assuring their happiness. She was a caring and generous person to everyone she met. Elma loved dancing, fishing, jigsaw puzzles and gardening. Elma was predeceased by her husband, Charles, and six siblings: Marcella Benham of Sanford, Florida; Margaret Hall of Margate, Florida; Bernice Hughes of Sanford, Florida; Anna Rawls of Green Cove Springs, Florida; Edward Smith of Sanford, Florida; and Pete Smith of Sanford, Florida. She was survived by her four daughters: Regina M. Johnson of Ocala, Florida; Bonnie B. Ludlow of Saint Mary’s, Georgia; Terry E. Bissen of Mount Dora, Florida; and Charlene B. Dahlberg of Sorrento, Florida. She was also survived by two grandsons, Kenneth Pichette of New Port Richey, Florida, Jason M. Dahlberg of Santa Clara, California, and two great-granddaughters. Services will be held privately at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, where Elma will forever rest next to her husband, Charles. The family requests memorial donations be made in Elma’s name, in lieu of flowers, to: Compassionate Care Hospice, 1645 E. Hwy. 50, Suite 302, Clermont, FL 34711 (Phone: 352-467-7423); or Alzheimer’s Association of Central Florida, 988 Woodcock Road, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803 (Phone: 1-800-272-3900); or to any charitable organization of your choice. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.