Margaret Dorothy Bremner

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, James Philip Bremner and Helen Brown MacNaught Bremner, both from Miramachi (Chatham), NB and her sister, Dr Marjorie Christine Moore (1925 - 2016). Loving aunt of Christine Moore, Nancy Moore and Carolyn Moore (Dr Calum Turvey), great-aunt of Robert Turvey (Kira Brennan), Greig Turvey, Alexander Turvey and Gillian Turvey, and great-great-aunt of Kane Austin Turvey. Cousin of Doris Manderville and Margaret Allen.

Dorothy was born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick and attended Normal School, the teachers' college of the time, and taught for a year in a one room schoolhouse with children aged 5 to 16. Her childhood consisted of family, school, friends, Saint Andrew's church, CGIT, and enjoying nature. She maintained lifelong friendships with many of her childhood friends from Fredericton and always considered the Maritimes her home, visiting family down east often.

When her father's Department of Agriculture job moved to Toronto, so did the family. Rather than completing grade 13 in Ontario, in a chance encounter with a visit to a farm for her father's work, she heard a discussion of the farmer's daughter's decision to pursue nursing. This piqued Dorothy's interest in a nursing career. Dorothy had a desire to contribute to the WWII effort. She recalled celebrating her 21st birthday working on a hospital ward when news of the D-Day invasion of Europe came to Toronto.

Dorothy entered Women's College Hospital nurses training programme and lived in the nurses' residence, Burton Hall, across the street from the hospital. Despite the intensity of the programme, Dorothy thrived. Lifelong friendships among classmates were formed there.

Upon graduation, a patient of Dorothy's, Mrs Huestis, chair of the Women's College Hospital board, was surprised that Dorothy was not a scholarship recipient and was so impressed with Dorothy's care that she created and funded a scholarship (Use of Technology) with Dorothy as the recipient. It enabled Dorothy to attend the University of Toronto for a year following nursing training, taking advanced science classes.

Following U of T, Dorothy returned to Women's College Hospital and taught nursing for decades, enjoying her students and reveling in their successes. Many kept in touch for decades and Dorothy was always delighted to see them at the annual reunion dinner.

When Women's College Hospital required that Dorothy have a university degree to continue to teach nursing, she made the decision to change careers and earned a BA degree in sociology from Atkinson College, York University while working as the nurse at Glendon College.

She loved her time at Glendon serving students, faculty and administration. She particularly enjoyed meeting foreign students, offering them unparalleled emotional support with some keeping in touch for years. Dorothy felt so strongly about helping students that at one point she personally sponsored a student from China. Working with Dr Randy Johnson was a pleasure and Dorothy and Dr Johnson became true friends.

In the 1970's Dorothy diagnosed malaria in a foreign student on a weekend in the Glendon campus health service and knowing she needed to act quickly, Dorothy embarked on the quickest path for treatment: she asked her sister to examine him, then Dorothy inquired, with a doctor who volunteered at the Homestead who had just returned from work in Africa, what the correct drug and dosage were to treat malaria. Dorothy's sister wrote out the prescription, treatment began and the student recovered.

Dorothy was a world traveler. She loved Europe and the Middle East and traveled to New Zealand to discover family connections there. She made friends every time she took a guided tour to a new destination. Dorothy retired at 65 and within the first few years took two world trips. She continued to travel and her last trip in her early 80's was to Newfoundland where she traveled with friends and was also the travel group's nurse, organized by her good friend, Harolyn Panetta.

Dorothy was a member of Bloor Street United Church for 80 years and was nourished by the scripture, fellowship, inclusiveness and outreach of Bloor Street. Dorothy served on various committees and was an elder.

Dorothy volunteered for years at The Salvation Army's Homestead, a house formerly on Bernard Avenue in downtown Toronto, which housed women in their journey to recovery.

Well into her early 90’s Dorothy was an active member of the University Women’s Club, Toronto chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), enjoying many aspects of the club's activities, especially the book clubs.

Dorothy had a remarkable memory and remembered names and dates as well as many details from her childhood, parts of sermons (from Dr Pidgeon's and Dr Howse’s eras) and passages from her university textbooks.

Dorothy was devoted to her family, particularly her three nieces. When her brother-in-law, Dr Robert Moore, died suddenly a few weeks before Christmas in 1963, she moved to her sister's house to help to care for her young nieces.

Dorothy shared her passions for gardening, travel, learning about different cultures, cooking, sewing and genealogy with all who showed interest. Dorothy's garden was a floral showpiece and included trees brought as saplings from New Brunswick.

Dorothy particularly loved Caravan, a Toronto cultural open house in the 1970s.

For many years Dorothy crafted handmade sock dolls to sell at UWC events and donated all the profits to charity.

All who met Dorothy were struck by her quick wit, kindness, generosity, optimism and selflessness.

Dorothy’s wish to remain in her own home was fulfilled. Her high quality of life in her last years was because of the extraordinary loving care provided by Alva Ancheta, Connie McCutcheon and other members of their family who embraced Dorothy as part of their family. We will be forever grateful for their love and support.

Donations can be made to Dorothy's church, Bloor St United Church, or to one of the many charities whose work she supported including Diabetes Canada and Sleeping Children Around the World.

We miss you Auntie Dorothy. We will always be grateful for your love, support, and kindness.

A private graveside service for Dorothy will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 33 Memory Gardens Lane, Toronto.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Bremner family.