Death Notice
DE JAGER, Dorothea – Peacefully at University Hospital on Sunday, November 21, 2021, Dorothea Emma De Jager, nee Fradrich, of London age 88. Beloved wife of the late Cornelis De Jager (1998). Loving mother of Heidi Wilmot-Smith of Brantford and Eardley Wilmot of Toronto. Beloved Nana of Taryn Victoria Smith (Tracey) and Sasha Melnik (Adam) and cherished Gigi of Jacob, Jack, Sarah and Laurence. Sister of Gunther, Renate and Erich. Also remembered by Cornelis’s children Michael, Richard and Robert and grandchildren Meaghan, Ryan and Michelle.
Dorothea was born in Berlin in 1933, and her life was a study in resiliency. Surviving the depression, Second World War, Nazi and post war Germany, she met her first husband in Sweden, emigrating to Canada in 1958. Leaving the marriage in 1964, she often struggled as a single mother, but managed to put herself through secretarial school and learn English, becoming a proud Canadian citizen in 1965, and eventually went on to work at Lawson and Jones in London, Ontario for a number of years. Her ‘Renaissance’ occurred when she married her ‘soul mate’, Cornelius in December, 1985, and together, they traveled the world, but were also lovingly best known as Opa and Nana, proudly displayed on their license plate. Dorothea lost her beloved Cornelius in 1998. Despite overcoming so many challenges in her life, Covid 19 was an adversary she was unable to contend with despite having had three vaccinations.
Special thanks to the Respiratory Team Doctors and Nurses at Victoria Hospital. Private cremation arrangements. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to London Health Sciences Foundation (Victoria Hospital) would be appreciated.
Condolences may be emailed to info@harrisfuneralhome.ca
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dorothea De Jager 2021..
Death notice for the town of: London, Province: Ontario