Mrs. Dorothy Howe

Mrs. Dorothy Howe was a woman for whom actions would speak louder than words. The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Dorothy's life. She was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. She was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Dorothy was modest in her actions and extremely literal in her thoughts and in the manner in which she communicated with others. When Dorothy said something, she meant it. All those who knew her appreciated this trademark quality. She was a woman of opposites, showing incredible compassion and empathy for those around her.       Her parents were Edith Kate and Albert Norman Johnson. Dorothy was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Even as a small child, Dorothy wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation, not that this always meant she'd take the 'right' path. As Dorothy grew older, she realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, she treated everyone around her the same way. This belief in fair play served Dorothy well throughout her life; she enjoyed a solid group of friends. Those that met her loved her.     Since Dorothy sought to treat those around her with respect, she often found herself in the role of playing peacemaker within her family. She would have preferred everyone get along but was comfortable in working through the types of sibling rivalry situations that quite often occur. Dorothy was raised with numerous brothers and sisters. She had sisters Edith, Margaret (Peggy) and Patricia, and brothers Albert, Charlie, Norman, Edward, Harold, Bill and Gordon. Dorothy was constantly involved in activities with her siblings though often felt the burden of caring for her brothers. Dorothy and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they shared many life experiences.     Those who did know Dorothy well knew her to be extremely compassionate and showed frequent sparks of humor. Though the circle of closest friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group, and Dorothy liked nothing better than to spend her free time with them. Dorothy was well known for always being up front and open, never hiding her true feelings, qualities that drew deep loyalty from her friends because they understood and appreciated her for the person she was. Dorothy would consider Inga Crosby her BFF, though Gayle Jones would be a close second. When Dorothy had to be hospitalized with pneumonia, Kellie was sent to stay with Inga for the duration. When Dot moved out to Saskatoon to be near Kellie, she expressed an interest in learning to Quilt. The instructor heard that she was new to the area and didn't have any friends, so Gayle took Dot 'under her wing' and a great friendship was born. She also counted Maria Zol, her hairdresser, as a very close friend.     This same loyalty and up front honesty Dorothy shared with her friends carried over to other aspects of her life, including her relationships with her family. On August 16, 1965 (her second marriage), Dorothy exchanged wedding vows with William Anthony Howe at a simple civil service in Vancouver, British Columbia. The marriage became a solid relationship, due in part to Dorothy's skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Bill's needs. She was a great listener who enjoyed the couple's “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.     As the family grew, Dorothy was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Dorothy was blessed with three children and four step children, two daughters Ollie and Margaret (Paddy) from her first marriage and Kellie (from her second). She also welcomed Linda, Ron, Richard and George from Bill's first marriage. Dorothy was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, she would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Dorothy was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Dorothy's inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family. In addition, there were many young people that passed through employment at the Paramount and/or Orchard Park Twin Theatres that came to see Dot and Bill as kind of second parents. There was always room for more in Dorothy's heart and to her last breathe she considered Carmen another daughter, even if not by blood.     In her work life, Dorothy was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. She excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once she understood exactly why she was working on a project, she could plow full steam ahead. For Dorothy, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to her in appreciating its importance. Even if she worked alone on an assignment, Dorothy was able to incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and she would readily use them if they improved the process. Her primary occupation was homemaker in later years. In the early years, she was employed in operating a switchboard at a large steel foundry, in a bakery during WWII, and after marriage to Bill, was often found working at various jobs around the theatres, usually confectionery sales or 'special projects'. Dorothy always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done. She was frequently left to deal with the logistics of activities that were an adjunct to the Theatres - Christmas parties for the children of local RCMP or other organizations, SoCred conferences, etc. And though often exhausting, she was thrilled to be able to give back and support Bill in his chosen career. She also catered a Christmas Party at the Howe house every year for all the staff. What originally started as just a small gathering of perhaps a half dozen people, grew to over 50 when staff from both theatres showed up. She did it all herself - from the turkey and ham and stuffing to at least 6 or 7 types of desserts. And she loved every minute of it!     Dorothy's curious and inquisitive nature influenced her choice of leisure pursuits as well. She applied her strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to her choice of activities. She particularly enjoyed the “alone” time her hobbies provided. Her favorite pursuits were knitting, sewing, quilting, cooking and reading. She was an incredible baker (though admitted later that the cake she served may have been a second try, the first not meeting her high standards). Dorothy was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others. She was thrilled to pass her skills along to anyone that asked.     Dorothy had the ability to stay calm and the determination to do what was necessary to get the job finished, traits that helped her enjoy sports. Recreational sports included 5 pin bowling and she did golf briefly. She was also known to be talked into 'volunteering' to bike ride with various class outings. Dorothy was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were CFL football and hockey.     Dorothy was an asset to any organization she joined. In many ways, she was a woman of action who would rather tackle a job than spend time chatting about irrelevant things. She worked well on small committees and excelled at focusing on the important details without getting bogged down by the unnecessary parts of an assignment. Throughout her later years, Dorothy was an active member of the Guide and Scout movement, being Commissioner for several years. She also spent some time as an Eagle (FOE) and volunteered with Interior Health, tending bar at Cotton Woods.     Religion and faith were not of primary importance to Dorothy, she was more spiritual in her beliefs. She always identified herself a member of the Anglican faith but did not practice.     Dorothy appreciated the occasions when she was able to travel and get away on a vacation. She enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacation spots included trips made back to Saskatoon. She and Bill made a return trip to Maui (the location of their honeymoon) with his daughter Linda and her husband Doug. Dot also enjoyed an Alaskan Cruise with her daughter Ollie. She thoroughly enjoyed immersing herself in the sights, sounds and tastes of new places. She and Bill also traveled to various Canadian cities as part of Bill's conventions put on by Famous Players.     Dorothy was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Dorothy's favorites was Keltoi, a Sheltie, bought for her while she was living in Saskatoon. They were best friends for 13 years. Her family was rounded out by Kellie's pets which included, over the years, two Ferrets, Sophie and Savi, a Samoyed Sunny, a Shepherd from Germany Izo, several budgies, all named Peter, and later a Borzoi Maggie. There was also a Siamese cat that lived at the Howe residence for a period of time, after Kellie was born. Those that know Dot will know how surprising this state of affairs was.      Dot didn't have a formal retirement. She still volunteered and put in shifts at the theatres whenever an extra hand was needed, right up until Bill passed away in 1984. After, she still had so much to keep her busy, she was well prepared. Her new life involved relocating to Saskatoon for 4years to provide a home for Kellie while she attended U of S. In late 1988 she returned to Kelowna. In retirement, she found continued pleasure in crafts, baking, and just helping out wherever she was needed.     Dorothy passed away on July 11, 2009 at Canadian German Care Home, Vancouver, BC. After fighting Alzheimer's for almost 10 years, it was pneumonia that finally stole her life. She is survived by all three daughters, Kellie, Paddy and Ollie as well as numerous Grandkids and Great Grandkids. Services were held at Valleyview Memorial in Kelowna. Dorothy will be laid to rest in Lakeview Memorial Garden, Kelowna, BC.     Dorothy strongly believed that talk is cheap. She was the type of person who would show others her feelings through her actions. She was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. She had a curiosity about the things around her and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences she treasured most were those she shared with her loved ones. Mrs. Dorothy Howe will be greatly missed.July 11, 2010It's hard to believe that a year has come and gone. So many reminders, many things left undone, my heart still grieves. A dear friend sent this to me and it seems a fitting tribute to the vital, loving woman my mother was.Death is nothing at all; I have only slipped away into the next room.I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other we are still.Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which we always used.Put no difference in your tone; wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.Laugh as we always laughed at little jokes together.Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without the effort, withoutthe trace of a shadow in it.Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity.What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?I am but waiting for you, for an interval somewhere very near, just around the corner.All is well.Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as before.Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I stop missing you.