A lifetime resident of the Williamsburg area, Dorothy Whitteker passed away at the Osgoode Care Centre on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. She was 94.
Dorothy was born on March 7, 1919, on a farm in the Township of Williamsburg to her parents William Levi and Allie Flo Casselman. She was the eldest of four siblings, Orval, Gertrude and Bill.
Dorothy’s family was the most important in her life. Over the years she has told her family many stories about her family and her childhood days. She worked hard on the farm, always helping others. She preferred working outside with her dad, but also helped her mom because her mom was small and sometimes in poor health, so she had to help her in the house a lot.
She grew up in a very large extended family home. Dorothy’s Aunt Della and her four daughters lived with them for many years. They were like older sisters to Dorothy, and she still could name them and talk about them this summer past when she looked at pictures.
Her grandparents lived with them too. So there were three families with three wood stoves, and 13 people eating meals together.
Then on Sundays other relatives would come to visit. What a wonderful way to grow up as a child.
On September 6, 1939, Dorothy married Paul Whitteker and from this union came three children Isla, Garry and Jim, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Dorothy had a loving, caring, giving, unconditional love for her family that could only come from the heart of God.
She was an excellent cook and baker, and she always made sure that her entire family was well fed at all times whether she was making them bologna sandwiches, cake, cookies, pickles or one of her other tasty treats.
Dorothy loved cats and she enjoyed gardening, playing cards, fishing and knitting.
All of her family members have benefitted from her abilities as a seamstress because they all have her hand knit dishcloths, scarves, mittens, socks and afghans.
Next to Dorothy’s love for her family was her love for the farm. Dorothy helped Paul deliver the mail, but she loved the farm, and nothing touched her heart more than being on her farm. It was not just a place where she grew up, but it was where she was supposed to be, and wanted to be all her life. She loved to go to the barn to milk the cows.
Dorothy always put the needs of her family ahead of her own. She was a very generous lady, and she provided a very positive influence on the lives of all of the members of her family.
Dorothy is survived by her children Isla Whitteker of Orleans and Garry (Mary) of R.R.# 3 Williamsburg, her brother Bill Casselman of Williamsburg and her sister-in-law Audrey A. Casselman of Williamsburg.
Dorothy will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Shelley (Vince) Cousineau, Tracy (Geoff) Hare, Shaw (Suzanne) Knelsen, Tammy (Dan) McIntosh, Stacey (Raymond) Lee and great-grandchildren Brooke, Brandon, Tyrnan, Ivy Grace, Ryan, Samuel, Michael and Jordan.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Paul, her infant daughter Julie, her son James Paul, her sister Gertrude Strader, her brother Orval Casselman, her sister-in-law Audrey H. Casselman and her brother-in-law Lyell “Sib” Strader.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Sunday, October 20th from noon until time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. The service was conducted by Rev. Norine Gullons. Interment followed at Spruce Haven Cemetery, Brinston.
Pallbearers were Shaw Knelsen, Dale Casselman, Alan Casselman, Dan McIntosh, Vince Cousineau and Geoff Hare.
Donations to the Osgoode Care Centre or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
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