Dorothy May McKilligan

Our mother, Dorothy May McKilligan chose a beautiful spring morning to leave the world she loved so much. She was almost one hundred and one years old. Her world of friends knew the time was near because begonias that she always started were not waiting to take their place in her spectacular baskets.

Born in London, England and noticed for her natural athletic agility, she was chosen to join an elite group of professional child performers, Terry's Juveniles. She loved being on the stage! She did not love her father stealing her money or her tap mat. British musical hall was in its heyday. When the war broke out she belonged with the famous June Gold dancers and it was their honour to entertain the troops. Oh, the stories and memories! The photos of her as a blond bombshell. Wow!

Near the end of the war she met our father, Art, an RCAF pilot. Lucky prairie boy falls in love and waits in Canada for his war bride to arrive. They were married in Winnipeg and settled in Victoria.

The Veterans Land Act made it possible to buy a home on an acreage. I think the price was $15,000. Determined to succeed in all things Canadian, and with the help of the Rossiter brothers next door and the Vantreights up the road, she learned to garden. My parents had one of the first plastic greenhouses in Victoria and they specialized in the red geraniums that were iconic in Victoria’s renowned flower baskets. She had four talented children, John, Elizabeth, Patrick and Andrew. We earned pocket money selling strawberries for 25 cents a basket. The kids made the baskets from balsam wood.

It broke her heart to leave Victoria for Nanaimo. She cried all the way up the Malahat. Once again, Dorothy picked herself up and reinvented herself. This time as a dance teacher with a basement studio. Here comes the figure skating era that would become the focus of the entire family. John and Betty were pair skaters and Patrick competed in singles. The skaters were encouraged to go to summer school.

Who could imagine that arenas were available for training in the summer? Summerland became our summer home which the kids enjoyed and mom endured.

We moved to North Vancouver in 1965. Right across from the North Shore Winter Club. Mom did not drive because every time she tried to learn her husband insisted that she understand the mechanics of a car engine. Can you guess what he taught at the BC Vocational School? Mom taught young figure skater flexibility and stretch to help with the cost of having three competitive skaters. The family effort was paid off at competition time. I do not think there has been another Canadian family with three skaters as Canadian Champions for two consecutive years. Dorothy's first trip back to London to visit her brothers and sister followed Betty and John's participation in the 1968 Olympics.

Her next reinvention came after the kids left home and Dad’s job moved them to Prince George. Now she took on cross country skiing and lapidary. She made friends there and they were still corresponding.

The last move took some thought. Patrick and Barb lived in Washington State. Betty and Steve and Andy, Thyra and John lived in North Vancouver. What was in-between? White Rock.

They had a lovely house with a garden and once again a greenhouse. Mom joined the White Rock Garden Club and frequently won Best in Show. She became a cyclist. She was so wrong in thinking she would never have grandchildren. First Aaron, then in one year Geoffrey, Chris, and twins, Adam and Ashley, followed by Katie, Marian and then Anna. She loved each one to bits. Weekends became adventures in garage sale exploration with Dad at the wheel. Easter egg hunts were famous for the abundance of her garage sale finds. Great grandchildren, Oliver, Braxton, and Ashley's expected bundle of joy will hear all about their GREAT GREAT Grandma.

Mom loved to shop. It was a favourite hobby and what she liked most of all was to find something on sale. We will never forget coming home from school after $1.49 day at Woodwards.

It may have been a garage sale that introduced Mom and Dad to Nico Wynd. Convincing Dad was difficult but she finally got her wish. Once again she embraced opportunity and learned to golf, to play tennis and to swim. Only Covid stopped her doing laps and exercises in the pool. She was a founding member of the social committee.

It was the perfect spot. Even after Dad passed away. The sight of her on her patio surrounded by flowers and waving at everyone who passed by will linger in friends' memories for a long time. Her 100th birthday was all day celebration of the love and respect that she had earned in the hearts of so many wonderful people. It takes a community to make it possible to live for 100 years.

To all of you who helped Dorothy with meals, rides to the store, keeping a watchful eye on her curtains and lights, we thank you! We are so proud of the palliative care team that enabled Elizabeth, Terrill, Andy and John to fulfill mom's wish of leaving the world from her beloved home.

Dorothy had a passion for supporting the 'underdog'. She saw talent in everyone, especially when they had not yet learned to believe in themselves. There are many figure skaters who will read this and nod their heads.

The Cmolik Foundation is based our community. It provides opportunities for B.C. youth who have experienced adversity in their lives. Mom learned about them when her grandson, Aaron donated his award as a remarkable alumnus of Southridge School.