DOROTHY MARTIN

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• Memories abound of my Aunt Dorothy, from my first recollections of my family travelling on the train from Vancouver to visit Uncle Jim, Aunt Dorothy, Bev and Bruce on the farm. I remember Aunt Dorothy taking us to a park with an outdoor wading pool. When I got into trouble in the pool my Mum came to rescue me and slipped into the pool with her full skirt billowing out on the surface of the water. Aunt Dorothy had to then help rescue both me and my Mum. It was probably that first visit when I was introduced to Aunt Dorothy's melt in your mouth baking power biscuits which became a staple of any visit to her home on the farm. On a much later train trip east with my family en route to Montreal and then by boat to Europe we had a stopover in Winnipeg. Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Jim came to the station to meet us. Aunt Dorothy was 7 months pregnant with Shauna when they met us. The miracle of Uncle Jim's near death experience, his recovery and then the news of a new baby on the way amazed and delighted the west coast branch of the family. As a teenager I was captivated by this family story and seeing Aunt Dorothy on that train platform, shyly delighted in her pregnancy, is a memory I will never forget. Fast forward and this time Aunt Dorothy and Shauna came west for a visit to the Vancouver family after Uncle Jim had died. I remember visiting gardens in Vancouver with her and Aunt Dorothy surreptitiously pinching cuttings from plants and quickly putting them in her purse in the hopes that she could get them started back Balmoral. After that visit I remember a request my Mum got from Aunt Dorothy. She had seen my Mum's heather in her garden. Aunt Dorothy was decorating a hall for some function and needed heather as a component of the decorations. Aunt Dorothy asked if my Mum could send her some. My memory is vague as to whether my Mum actually boxed up some heather and sent it out to Balmoral but I certainly remember the request of a dedicated horticulturist. My next memory is of living in Winnipeg for a year and being pregnant at the time with my son Martin. There were lots of visits back and forth to the farm and at the time Aunt Dorothy was busily engaged with sewing Sasha doll clothes for the Toad Hall toy store in Winnipeg. I remember being in awe of the intricate and detailed clothes she was making. Her sewing talents and skills were to follow me in my move to Victoria but before leaving Winnipeg she made me a beautiful "Prairie Lily" baby quilt. It was her own design and I hope to wrap my new grand baby that is on the way in it when the time comes. After many moves my family finally took root in Victoria. Two years after moving here I took a job in a high end toy store that coincidently was selling Sasha dolls. Both my children acquired Sasha dolls and over a number of years I kept Aunt Dorothy busy and employed outfitting these dolls. Those dolls and their wardrobe have given so much pleasure to so many visiting children over the years. Just recently I brought the wardrobe and dolls out to show a new friend who is a lover and collector of dolls. Aunt Dorothy's talents were once again appreciated and admired as they should be. She was a crafter of rare and exceptional talents. I remember my Mum visiting Aunt Dorothy and being so impressed with the children's Artic parkas she had made that my Mum got the patterns and came home and made two for my children. I continue to treasure my memories of Aunt Dorothy and celebrate her gifts. I am so relieved to know her life has come to a peaceful, natural end and that she lived it fully. Condolences to all the family. - Posted by: Orleen MacLulich (nee Martin) (Niece) on: Mar 31, 2015

• Dorothy and myself and husband became friends when my husband had to go to the Stonewall hospital for treatment 2 times a day. I really enjoyed Dorothy's company while my husband was getting treatment. She told me stories about her family and life. We did go and see Dorothy when she was moved to Selkirk and when she was moved to Teulon we also went to see her. Dorothy was a very sweet lady. She reminded me of my grandmother. We will miss her very much. RIP Dorothy. Your friends Cathy & Tracy Wiwchar. - Posted by: Cathy Wiwchar (Friend) on: Mar 31, 2015