Dorothy Buchanan
June 10th 1918 – December 2nd 2015
Dorothy Buchanan, mother of (Joan) Elizabeth Buchanan, Salt Spring, and grandmother of Elizabeth Buchanan Woods, Amman, Jordan, died gently and peacefully with Elizabeth at her side after one day in bed.
Dorothy grew up in Hanna, Alberta and spent most of her life in Vancouver. Prevented from finishing her nursing training due to an injury, she cared for friends, parents and elderly neighbours into her nineties. In her 20’s, Dorothy revelled in working at the Marine Building for a Danish Shipping Company and later was one of the first teaching/educational assistants at Lord Byng High School.
Dorothy loved sweets, so Elizabeth became her culinary assistant at an early age. She was a social person who loved meeting for cards and coffee, often winning at whist until she was 95. She continued to enjoy bingo and indoor bowling into her 98th year. She adored travelling the world and did so from her 70’s until her late ‘80’s, meeting many friends on group tours. Although Dorothy and Elizabeth had some major differences, their relationship continued to grow and change right up until Dorothy’s last day, teaching Elizabeth much. Her favourite saying was, “If you’ve got money, spend it!”
Her memorial is Saturday, March 5th 2 pm at St. Chad’s Anglican Church, Vancouver.