“Always be a little kinder than necessary.” James M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan
This thought could easily have been credited to a first-class lady who left this life a little less than six weeks before her 102nd birthday.
Dorothy was born in Leduc, Alberta, the sixth and youngest child of Alexander and Mabel Shields. But she nearly didn’t become a member of the Shields’ family at all. Her dad and mom were 45 and 43 years of age when Mabel announced she was expecting.
Dorothy didn’t mind telling anyone within ear shot that she was a whoops! baby, 10 years younger than her next closest sibling.
After moving to Edmonton at the age of six, her family eventually settled in the Garneau neighbourhood, where she attended Garneau School, and later went to what was called Normal School at Corbett Hall on the University of Alberta campus.
Dorothy always wanted to go into nursing, but she met the love of her life near the beginning of the Second World War, which understandably threw everyone’s plans into turmoil back then. Dorothy and Jimmie were married on August 20, 1942, and shortly afterward Jimmie headed off to Europe.
Not only was Dorothy a kind, caring, compassionate person, she was incredibly creative. She worked in retail for many years, most of them spent at Johnston Walker, Zellers and Reed’s China and Gift Shop at Bonnie Doon Mall. In fact, she managed the Reed’s location for more than 20 years until her retirement in 1986.
Many of her customers – clients, really – refused to deal with anyone else at Reed’s except Dorothy. They knew she understood their wants and needs. And because they knew she’d wrap their purchases with such flair and ingenuity! Many of them would smile and wide-eyed say to Dorothy, quote, “This looks too nice to unwrap!”
Dorothy was also an active member, right up until about 10 years ago when she was in her early 90s, of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE), a women's charitable organization that still provides scholarships, bursaries, book prizes, and awards, and pursues other philanthropic and educational projects in various communities across Canada.
A voracious reader, she was never without a good book in her hands. And noting her hands, Dorothy also had a green thumb, and was always so proud of the flowers she planted in her front and back yards at her home in Kenilworth. No one could quite match her expertise in growing African Violets.
Dorothy is lovingly remembered by her daughter Linda and husband Tom Brisbane; her son Randy and wife Val; grandsons Brian Brisbane and Keith Kilburn, granddaughters Kirsten Kilburn, Alexandra Kilburn-Gourley, and Meaghan Blackburn and husband Dwayne; great grandchildren Taylor and Jordan Blackburn, as well as other inherited granddaughters, grandsons and great grandchildren.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Jimmie, her parents, her five siblings – Roy, Velma, Sterling, Lorna and Audrey – and all but two of her nieces and nephews.
Come celebrate a long life well lived on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Hainstock’s Funeral Home, 9810-34th Avenue NW in Edmonton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice in Dorothy’s name.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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