Dorothy Patricia Dykes

Dorothy was a wonderful wife and mother, we were married for 67 years. We were engaged for a year (the marriage was delayed six months because of her mother's death) and dated for three years before that, so we knew each other for 71 years.

We can't claim that our lives were always wonderful and just perfect. We met in wartime England, with its strict food and clothes rationing and the frequent sound of air raid sirens. In 1953 there was still some food rationing and the prospect of getting a home of our own was zero. This prompted thoughts of emigration and we emigrated to Canada. I came by air in October and Dorothy came by sea in December with our two children. The ship had to turn back for a while because of a hurricane off the Canadian coast. The storm damaged ship finally landed in Halifax and they continued to Toronto by air.


Dorothy was just wonderful throughout all this period. After the war was over I spent a year as a radar instructor for the Dutch army and in appreciation the Dutch government offered to bring Dorothy to Holland in a Dutch diplomatic plane. It is difficult to imagine now, but at that time travel overseas for Britons was not permitted and it must have been quite an experience for a young mother, who had never travelled more than 15 miles from home, to go to London, find Hendon airport and bring our son to Holland to stay in a Dutch home. I was allowed to stay with her. We travelled all over Holland at week ends and also had two weeks at an army rest centre in Bad Harzberg, Germany. She might have been the only British civilian in Europe at that time.

In Canada, Dorothy still didn't have a chance to really settle down for the first three and a half years. During that time we lived in Hamilton, Winnipeg, Prince George BC and Montreal before coming to Waterloo. There we bought our first house and ever since we have regarded Waterloo as our home - in spite of 20 years spent in Kanata (near Ottawa) and Brockville before returning to Waterloo. Dorothy brought up our three children without much help from me because of overtime work, university studies and overseas travel on business. Whatever success I have had in life I owe to Dorothy. I just can't imagine a better, more devoted, caring wife and mother. She loved dogs - she had one before our marriage – and we had several in our lifetime. I now live with her dog Riley, a 10 year old Boston Terrier.

In October 2010 she went into hospital and then into a Long Term Care Home. She had osteoporosis and for many years had suffered from Parkinson's disease and diabetes. During the last three years she had two near-death experiences, saved by going into hospital. In October of this year she ran into health problems again, lost her appetite completely and had no food for three weeks in November. But she gradually started eating and recently she had an excellent appetite and really enjoyed her meals.
It looked as though she would make a complete recovery. Then, on December 22nd, a routine check at 11:00 pm by a staff member found that she had passed away. This surprised everyone because she had been doing so well. To me it was a great shock to lose her, I just couldn't believe it. It is very lonely without her.

Her life was filled with many changes, some hardships, and much happiness - and always there was the love that had kept us together for 71 years and the many memories that I shall treasure until the time comes for me to be with her once again.

I love you very much my darling Dorothy.


Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Place Of Birth: West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England High School: Hillocks Secondary Spouse: Hedley Owen Dykes Wedding Date: 1946-08-17 Children: Maurice Hedley, Malcolm Edward Bryan, Kenneth Grenville Interests/Hobbies: China Painting, Sewing