Heidi Ingeborg Helene Ohrt

On Saturday May 8th 2021, Heidi Ingeborg Helene Ohrt, loving mother, grandmother, and partner, enthusiastic patron of the arts, ardent traveler, and adventurous spirit, passed away peacefully at age 88.

Heidi arrived in the world on September 24, 1932 in Kiel, Germany. She lived and thrived through incredibly transformative times, from the traumas of WWII and the dynamic post-war period, to the digital era. Moving to London, England on her own at the age of 18, she trained as a nurse while learning English and building lifelong friendships. After nursing, she seized the opportunity to travel the globe as a highly-respected stewardess with Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA). Eventually she settled in Montreal, Canada, where she met and married Donald Dewey, the father of her three children.

While raising her children, designing their house in Whitby, Ontario, and orchestrating frequent family trips to New Brunswick and Germany, Heidi found time to volunteer at local art galleries, the little theatre and the public library. She never missed an opportunity to help with school field trips. Later, she became one of Whitby’s top real estate agents before moving to Toronto in 1984, where she was able to fully delight in her passion for the arts.

Heidi loved living in Toronto, thinking it was the best city on Earth. She led an active life taking classes at Ryerson University, volunteering as a docent at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and volunteering at the Canadian Opera Company (COC). It was through the COC that she met her devoted partner, Patrick Brown, in 1993. Together, they traveled the world, from riding camels by the Egyptian pyramids to reveling in opera at La Scala in Milan. Above all, they enjoyed spending time with the family, especially with the grandchildren in Ottawa and Vancouver.

Self-assured, cultured, inquisitive, and open-minded, Heidi approached life with verve and confidence, conquering every challenge and living to the fullest. Heidi is survived by her loving partner, Patrick, daughter Kate (Joe) Capogreco, sons Robert (Sonia) Dewey and Ken (Trudy) Dewey, and five grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Miya, Sage Jack and Robyn.  Rest in peace, Mum and Grandmum.  We will miss you.  xox

Due to COVID-19 protocols, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Waterford Retirement Community in Ottawa, for their kind and good-humoured care through the challenges of the past 15 months.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the AGO or COC are much appreciated.