Dorothy Karklin

August 13, 1925 – July 4, 2022

Dorothy Karklin, age 96, passed away on the afternoon of July 4, 2022. She passed in her life-long home in Lettonia, with her 3 children and her 3 spoiled dogs by her side. Dorothy went by many names: Dolly, Mum, Grandma, Big Grandma, Aunty, and everyone who was lucky enough to know her came to love her dearly.

Dolly was a friend to everyone. She always had an open-door policy to new and old friends, strangers and neighbours. There was always enough dinner to share with whoever wanted to join her, and there was always room on her beautiful property for friends to come and enjoy it. Her generous spirit and love of people lives on with her children and grandchildren.

Food has to be mentioned as part of her legacy. Through her Latvian heritage, she passed on traditions of making sauerkraut, piragi, pickles, and preserves to her kids. She was also an adventurous cook and eater beyond these traditions, and in her home which she shared with two of her three children until her death, there was always a new recipe being tested, or cuisine being tried.

Even at 96, she was never quite a ‘little old lady’, standing at 5’11” tall for much of her life, with a sharp mind and big personality to match. She was always working on a crossword, with her multiple dictionaries by her side for reference- if you were lucky, she might even let you contribute a word. Her memory was possibly better than her family would have preferred. She enjoyed happy hour with her family until the end of her life, enjoying a glass of white wine on a drive around her property with her son was one of her favourite activities.

She was preceded in death by her husband Edmund, infant son Robert, sister Helen, and brother Herb. She is survived by a large family who will miss her dearly: Her sister Joyce, children Dan, Dorothy, and Georgina, as well as her sons-in-law Bill and Ian, and sister-in-law Margit. Her granddaughter Cynthia, husband Chevy, and great-grandchildren Liam, Emma, and Megan lived nearby and spent many birthdays, holidays, and Sunday dinners together. Her grandchildren Jillian and Gavin (Lil Gav) cherished the time they could spend together on their visits from the U.S. She will be missed by numerous nieces and nephews, and her extended family members Stuart, Bradley, Shelley and Cheryl.

A memorial is planned for later in the summer, please reach out to Georgina Karklin (georgina.karklin@gmail.com) if you would like to be contacted with details.

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