Dorothy Green

Dorothy Green (nee Fawcett), Beloved wife and soulmate of Alexander (“Alistair”) Green, loving mother of Susan Green (Murray), Lyndsay Green (Michael) and Alison Gascoigne (Lance) and dear grandmother of Alwyn (Trev), Trevor and Hailey. Fondly remembered by her sister-in-law Moira Green of Kitchener and family in England, Spain and South America.

Born in Bolton Percy, Yorkshire, into a close family with four siblings, Dorothy was always proud to be a Yorkshire lass. Her family moved to follow her father’s railway job, eventually settling in Barlby and then Selby. Dorothy loved the Yorkshire countryside, where she developed a lifelong love of walking and nature study. She went to Bingley Teachers’ College and became a primary school teacher.

In 1952, while on a walking holiday near Mallaig, Scotland, Dorothy was offered a lift to the nearby youth hostel by a young Scottish engineer on a motorbike. Throwing caution to the winds she climbed onto his bike and never looked back. By the time they had toured the Isle of Skye, Alistair and Dorothy each knew they had met “the one”. They were together for over 70 happy years.

Alistair would ride his motorbike 200 miles to Selby every weekend to see Dorothy. In time they decided to move to Canada. They settled in Toronto, where they married in 1955. Alistair became an engineer with De Havilland Aircraft and Dorothy taught at Charles Howitt School in Richmond Hill. They bought a house in rural West Rouge, near Lake Ontario. Dorothy gave up teaching and devoted herself to raising her three young daughters.

Dorothy was the kindest and most loving mother. Her children remember her teaching them about nature, making up stories (the exciting adventures of “Oliver Polliver”), hosting amazing birthday parties, baking delicious treats, taking them for picnics and on family camping trips to Lake Simcoe and Arrowhead Provincial Park, and always supporting them in every way. Alison remembers Mum walking to school through the snow to bring her home for a delicious lunch of steaming hot soup with bread and butter, eaten picnic-style in the sun-filled den.

As her children grew up, Dorothy had time to pursue her own interests. Always a talented artist, she took oil painting classes and created the beautiful landscape paintings that are part of her legacy today. Dorothy’s earliest memory was of being held up to look out at a field of daisies, so it is no wonder that flowers and gardens became her other lifelong passion. Wherever they lived, she and Alistair turned their property into a natural oasis with rock gardens, vegetable beds, fruit trees and roses.

In 1990 Dorothy and Alistair retired to Victoria B.C. They bought a house in Gordon Head where Dorothy turned her attention towards creating another cozy home and beautiful garden. The garden is a testament to her flair for design, with its flowering shrubs, sheltered patios, sunny seating areas and flowers everywhere.

Over the years, Dorothy and Alistair travelled through the Rockies and all over Vancouver Island, as well as to California, Cuba and Hawaii. Dorothy enjoyed travelling but was always happiest at home with her family, working in the garden and taking long walks with Alistair at Victoria’s parks and beaches. In later years, they walked at Outerbridge Park in Saanich almost every day.

Dorothy treated everyone with kindness and respect. She had a great sense of humour and a love for language, earning the nickname “Perfect Pun” at an early age. She loved poetry, literature, Classical archaeology and English history. She knew all about plants and birds. She enjoyed a cryptic crossword puzzle and could beat anyone at Scrabble. She was fond of dogs and made sure that the family pets got lots of pats and treats.

Dorothy’s grandchildren adored her. Granny welcomed them with stories, crafts, homemade treats and lots of love. They remember happy times at Willows Beach, playing board games and learning to oil paint with Granny. Her family parties were legendary and no gathering was complete without a hunt for hidden candies.

Dorothy was the best wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law and aunt that anyone could have. We will always remember her lovely smile, warm hugs and kind heart.

Thank you to family doctor Dr. Michelle Nelson and the staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital (6N), especially RN Teresita and Dr. MacKenzie, for their compassionate care.

At Dorothy’s request there will not be a memorial service, but there will be a permanent marker at the First Memorial Garden of Memories in Saanich. Donations to a nature-related charity would be welcome.