Dorothy Ruth Winterhalt: A Life Story
Dorothy died peacefully at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Orillia, Ontario, on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at the age of 98. Dorothy’s husband of 74 years, John Winterhalt, predeceased her by 3 years. Dorothy is survived by daughter Joan Winterhalt Philp (Greg), son Bill Winterhalt (Kathy Pounder), and daughter Ruth Winterhalt (Michael McMahon); by grandchildren Michael Philp (Stephanie Nykamp), Heather Philp (Brian Fowler), Sarah Winterhalt (Bill Cowper), Amy Winterhalt, Eirin McMahon, and Martha Winterhalt (Karl Leuschen); and by great grandchildren Kailey Fowler, Edie Cowper and William Cowper.
Dorothy was born March 26th, 1923 in Pointe Claire, Quebec, and enjoyed an active childhood with her parents Reg and Floss Piper, and her 3 siblings Mona, Marion and Howard. They lived just up from the shore of Valois Bay on Lac St. Louis, where Dorothy could do lots of the swimming and canoeing she loved so much. They and their many friends also enjoyed a tennis court that Reg installed on an abutting vacant lot. When they were teenagers, the family acquired a family cottage on Lac Ouareau in the Laurentians, giving them more opportunities for swimming and boating. Unfortunately, the early death of their mother Floss was a major setback for all of them.
Soon after completing high school and a business course, Mom started a job in Montreal as a secretary/bookkeeper. She soon met John Winterhalt who had transferred from Kitchener to work in Montreal, and lived in a nearby boarding house. They were married in November, 1944. They lived and raised their three children in nearby Dorval, Quebec. During that time Mom became a member and active volunteer at the Dorval United Church. Both Dorothy and John became avid curlers and golfers.
After John’s company transferred him to Toronto in 1972, he and Dorothy enjoyed many more years curling, golfing, travelling the world and spending time at the family cottage in the Laurentians. After John’s retirement, he and Dorothy moved to Burlington, Ontario and enjoyed their Condo apartment life at 2055 Upper Middle Road, where they engaged in social activities, bridge, swimming and billiards with many neighbours and friends in their building.
In mid-2018, Dorothy had to move to Christopher Terrace retirement home because of her increasing mobility constraints from musculoskeletal disease. John’s own mobility issues forced him to join Dorothy at Christopher Terrace in early November 2018, and he died soon after of increasing complications. Five months later, Dorothy fell and broke her left Tibia, and following a long rehabilitation and further reduced mobility, she moved to Champlain Manor in Orillia to be closer to her son Bill and wife Kathy.
Dorothy’s family is grateful for the attentive care she received at both Christopher Terrace and Champlain Manor, and particularly for the excellent care of Dr. Karim Dharssi who visited her many times at Champlain Manor, and at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital during a number of health crises in the latter half of 2021.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made in Dorothy’s name to any charity of your choice.
A celebration of life for Dorothy will hopefully be organized later in 2022 when both the weather and Covid situations are more favorable.
Read Less
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dorothy Ruth Winterhalt Piper Wednesday December 22nd 2021..
Death notice for the town of: , Province: Ontario