DOROTHY IRENE PALEY (JOHNSTON)

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DOROTHY IRENE PALEY (nee JOHNSTON) June 21, 1926 to January 8, 2003 Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother passed away peacefully into the hand of our Lord, on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, with her family by her side at Holy Family Nursing Home. Dorothy was born on June 21, 1926, at Craik, SK. She moved at an early age, growing up, schooling and living most of her life in Dominion City, MB. Mom had many passions and talents. She explored her artistic nature, studying ballet, tap dancing, baton and piano. As a young woman, she worked as an elevator operator at Eatons in Winnipeg. It was after this that Mom and Dad married and she raised her family. Mom taught tap, ballet, baton and tumbling to many children in Dominion City, Emerson, Hallock, Lancaster and Pembina. Mom and her students worked very hard, taking great pride in their recitals, until she was forced to give it up due to ill health. In life, mom wore many hats. She was a member of the Eastern Star, a Sunday school teacher, sang in the United Church choir, member of the United Church Womens Group, a member of the Dominion City Community Club, volunteered with many community events and was a reporter for the area newspapers (Carillon and Emerson Journal). She was also a hard campaigner for the local Conservative Party. Mom and Dad loved to travel. They took many trips to the Bahamas, Hawaii, the Florida Keys and Barbados. They travelled by motor home, south to Arizona and California for 15 years, making Fountain of Youth their second home. She loved to camp and golf with friends and spent hours immersed in her crafts and needlework. She had a great passion for the sport of hockey and enjoyed following figure skating. She loved to be outside in the sunshine. Mom tried her hand at taking Spanish lessons and painting lessons. In her younger days she enjoyed speed skating. Mom experienced many trying times in her life, but through her love and determination, her legacy will forever be held dear in the hearts of her family and friends. Mom leaves behind her husband Maurice; son David; daughters, Nicki and Hank (Bogers) and Carla and Shaun (Martin) her cherished grandchildren, Dustin, Dana and Kyle; as well as her little "baby" Fritz. Mom has gone to join her father Alton (1986) and her mother Elsie (June 2002) and stepfather Joe Wallace (July 2002). Special thanks to all of the home care workers from Selkirk and Dominion City, and We Care (Selkirk). If it had not been for your kindness and caring, we would not have been able to keep our mom at home for as long as we were able to. Thank you to Dr. Fraser and the nursing staff at the Morris Hospital and Red River Lodge for all the care given over the years during her stay at the home. Our family would like to express our appreciation for Dr. Connelly and the Holy Family Nursing Home, especially the staff of St. Johns Ward, who daily gave such love and devotion to our mother and tremendous moral support to our family, these last three years. You have made the transition easier and have made all our lives richer. A celebration of Moms life will take place on Wednesday, January 15, at 2:00 p.m., in the Dominion City United Church. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the D.C. Community Hall. Interment will take place at a later date. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dominion City United Church; or Holy Family Nursing Home, 165 Aberdeen Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2W 1T9. The family would like to make a memory book of Moms life. If you have a special story or memory of Mom, we would appreciate you writing them down and sharing them with us. I Need to Say Goodbye Although Youre With Me I need to say goodbye although youre with me I stand beside your grave, yet you are here. I miss you terribly But when I turn to you, youre always near. I talk to you as though you lived within me, Not changed but simply moved in from outside. I know each day you must a little leave me, But here, as always, you must be my guide. You were and are and will be, just as ever, In many minds and hearts, not only mine. No physical event can such love sever. Death is a dimension, not a line. And so goodbye does not mean you are gone: So long as I still love you, you live on. Arrangements entrusted to Loewen Funeral Chapel of Steinbach. (204) 326-1351.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 12, 2003