Dorothy Jean (Richardson) Wilson

After a brief illness our Mom and Nana died on March 30th, 2023, surrounded by love. On her final night, she blew a kiss to her son Murray and waved good-bye as he left her at the hospital.

Dorothy was the dearly loved wife of Don Wilson (died 2010). They were married for nearly fifty-eight years. She was the adored Mom of Brenda (died 2022) and Murray. Dorothy was the loved and treasured best Nana in the world to Fiona and John. She was also the much-loved mother-in-law and friend of Julie.

Dorothy was a steadfast friend to her extended family and to her lifelong friends the Taylors (Tom, Mona, and sons Tom and Dave). She was a welcome and welcoming presence in the lives of so many people at Go Home Lake. She was also a caring neighbour who kept an eye out for others, just as Don had done, over the five-plus decades of her time living at her home.

Although Dorothy did not get to Go Home Lake in recent years, she continued to provide a warm and welcoming place for all who came to the beautiful cottage that Don and Dorothy started to build in 1959. She was an amazing partner to Dad, always. They complemented each other perfectly.

Mom was a precious and extremely important person to the fortunate group of people who knew her. She was kind and considerate. Always very attentive to those around her, she was an amazing listener and retained every detail a person shared with her. She was quiet, “didn’t make a big splash,” as her son Murray recently observed; but she was so special.

She had a wry and sparkling wit, and when she felt comfortable enough to let that part of herself show, she got big laughs, always. Her timing was impeccable, her humour was never unkind. Her beautiful brown eyes smiled easily and twinkled when she was being playful.

Mom had a strong constitution and enjoyed good health all her life, despite a very rocky start. She was a breech birth preemie, extremely small, and was not expected to survive. She survived and thrived. When she was in the ER just before the end, she got a kick out of telling the ER staff that the last time she’d been in hospital was in 1960, to give birth to Murray. They were suitably impressed.

When Mom was widowed in 2010, she accepted her new situation and flowed with it. Until COVID closed the world, she did all her own errands, driving the car with skill and pride. When the location of an appointment was too far out of her usual area, she became comfortable with calling a taxi. She took pride in her independence.

When things changed due to COVID restrictions and she needed to rely more on Murray’s support and loving help from the rest of the family, she accepted that with grace.

Mom never complained. She always displayed kindness and gratitude. She knew pain and loss, as does anyone who has lived for over nine decades; but Dorothy never lost her sweet nature or her playful spirit. She was eternally young.

We are so grateful to have had her in our lives all these years. We will love her and miss her forever.