Dorothy Jean (Gildner) Fraser. Dotti, D.J. or Do –
All of a sudden-it’s over, and you haven’t had time to say all the things you’ve wanted to say! –
I had a wonderful life as a child. I was born in Toronto in 1933, and was the youngest in the family with three older brothers. Two who were in WW2. I wore all my cousins’ hand me downs and walked every Sunday with my Dad on the Beach Boardwalk in Toronto; I was a cheerleader and a student representative at Riverdale Collegiate Institute, president of the Girls’ Club and a Toronto Rep at a city Student Council. Next time I’d concentrate on academics!
My father died when I was 15. He taught me to swim, fish and was kind and loving and I was his only girl. He was one of the original planners of the Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto and was the “interlocutor” in the Annual Minstral Show in our church. I adored him and had a wonderful childhood. I owed him $2.00 when he died suddenly.
I graduated with a 3 year nursing program from TGH in 1953, and loved it! Some of my oldest and dearest friendships were forged during these years. I was a good nurse and went to Boston (Mass General Hospital) when I graduated as jobs were scarce in Canada. Actually I was chasing a cute intern! After raising my 5 children, I went back to work as a Public Health nurse and also worked at the Birth Control Centre, which I loved.
I married a great, fun loving man – James John Alexander Fraser. He had 3 older sisters and I had 3 older brothers so we were both the babies in the family. And “you have to listen to the baby”! Birth Control wasn’t great then!! We had a lot of pregnancies!!
Jim and I had 43 years – good and bad times – he loved women and was a good father. He was a hockey coach with our Anglican priest. Jim was impatient, but kind and caring. He was an OB & Gyn and his patients loved him. Jim died in 1999 at 68, CA of the prostate – too soon!
John came into my life in 2002 when he was 75. We lived in Canmore AB and skied the Rockies, which my Western kids loved. We had 10 years of an entirely different life. He was so kind and we loved to hug daily. Never lose an opportunity to embrace a different life. I now have 4 step daughters and another son who have been so supportive of me.
One of the things I am most proud of, besides my kids & their kids, is the 82 pints of blood I gave to the Red Cross. That’s not as easy as you think as you are restricted when you are pregnant. I’d even beat the kids filling that plasma bag as I would clench and unclench my fist to speed it up!
It’s time to move on. I’ve done the best I could at the time I did it. We all make mistakes but life is quite a joy and the birds singing each morning as you awaken tell you so!
We will take it from here Mom. Do loved The National Ballet of Canada, The Shaw Festival, Stratford, a good glass of wine, music and ice cream. She was a magician at hiding ‘the evidence’. She cherished her many wonderful friends, old and new. Do was known for being independent, confident and outspoken. Do loved to laugh and had a great sense of humour, even to the end. We have so many fond memories and we will sorely miss you.
Dorothy Jean (Gildner) Fraser – Dotti, D.J. or Do
Predeceased by her 1st husband, James J.A. Fraser (d.1999) after 43 years of marriage; parent of Jim (Jackie), Michael, Gordon (Susan), John and Jane (Greg); grandmother to 4. Predeceased by her second husband, John D. Proud (d. 2013). Stepmother to Cathy (Rob), Jan (d. 2007) Carol, Rob (Debbie), Barbara (Johnny, sep) & Marg (Wrae) and there are14 grandchildren. and 7 great-grandchildren Such contrasts in my life, but 2 wonderful men!
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place in the Spring when we will raise a glass and ‘Drink to Do’.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Doctors Without Borders -720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 402, Toronto,Ontario M5S 2T9;
Sleeping Children Around the World – 28 Pinehurst Crescent, Toronto,Ontario, M9A 3A5;
Wellington Hospice 795 Scottsdale Dr, Guelph, Ontario N1G 3R8.
We wish to thank the incredible staff at Guelph General, St. Mary’s and Wellington Hospice for the kindness, care and compassion shown to both Do and the family. You have touched our lives forever.
Read Less
Friday November 12th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Dorothy Jean Fraser Friday November 12th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Guelph, Province: Ontario