Obituary for Dorothy Ethel Saya-Whitmore (Fowler)

Life Story for Dorothy Ethel Saya-Whitmore (Fowler)

Dorothy Saya-Whitmore October 31 1924 - June 11 2017

“Your Legacy is Every Life You Have Ever Touched” - Oprah Winfrey
Dorothy was born in Medicine Hat Alberta, the middle child and only girl of Ethel Marie Pippy
and Joseph Benjamin Fowler. Dorothy was raised in Fort William Ontario, until 1942 when she
joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Her initial training was in Camp Borden Ont, where she
became a stenographer, where she met and became engaged to Gerald Saya who was training
to become a fighter pilot. Dorothy spent the war years in Toronto, working in a military office in
downtown Toronto until 1945, when the war ended. She married Gerry October 20 1945 and
moved to North Bay Ont, where she lived until 1969. During that time, she had 6 children, Patricia, Linda, Thomas, Gordon, Joanne & William. She was a domestic goddess of the first rank, a wonderful homemaker, chef, baker, seamstress she excelled as well in knitting, needlework and crochet. She loved to decorate her homes and was masterful at sewing drapes, bedding, and slipcovers. During this time she made many lifelong friends and jointed Beta Sigma Phi, a sorority of women, and stayed a member for life. It was through this network that she flourished and developed friendships in Ontario and later in Quebec. In 1969, she relocated with Gerry to Kirkland Que. She became a volunteer at the local hospital while raising her family. Then to everyone’s surprise, she decided to go to University to study Philosophy and Psychology and passed with honours. In 1976, she moved to Toronto, settling in Scarborough, where she became a volunteer at Scarborough Centenary Hospital, and continued on with a new group of friends with Beta Sigma Phi. Her work with the hospital included Baby Photo Service (her favourite) and buyer for the gift shop, to name a few. During this time, she took a course in Interior Decorating and went to work with her daughter Pat, then an Interior Designer in Toronto. Her excellent taste, and passion for decorating, brought her many hours of enjoyment, working with the other designers and being the office matriarch. They referred to her as “Totally Awesome Dorth”. Those were amazing days together that created her little touches of magic in many Toronto homes. After Gerry had a stroke, they moved to a condo in Markham and she devoted her time to him until his death in 1999. She remarried in 2003 to Ed Whitmore and moved to Swan Lake, where she met many new friends and neighbours. After Ed’s death she moved into Amica Swan Lake, a retirement facility, where she enjoyed 8 wonderful years in her beautiful suite. She met Harry Weightman during her residence there, and they enjoyed each other’s company for many years, attending theatre, dining out and getting together with her family. After her stroke in December 2015, she moved into Long Term Care in Bradford Valley. Weekly visits with Harry, always produced many smiles and gave them something to look forward to. At Bradford, she was cared for by the amazing staff until her passing. The staff loved her and she always rewarded them with a big smile and communicated to them with her sparkling blue eyes. You will be sadly missed by your large family. Grandchildren Keri, Jennie, Joanna, Joshua, Dorrie, Jamie, John, Andrew, Kylie, Ryan, Melanie, Suzanne, Thomas & Michael, and 12 greatgrandchildren. Your unique blend of fun, compassion, and caring for others, endeared you to hundreds who met you in their lifetime. There will never be another you. And there will never be another pair of blue eyes quite like yours. Thank you for 92 amazing years.