Obituary of Dorothy Hazel Robinson

DOROTHY HAZEL ROBINSON Peacefully, on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Strathaven Nursing Home, in Bowmanville, at age 88. Dorothy (nee Taylor), beloved wife of the late Alf Robinson of Port Perry. Loving mother of Ken Robinson (Frances), Jean Robinson, Jim Robinson, Diane Stanish, and Paul Robinson. Loved grandmother of Laura (Jeff), Roger (Sandra), David (Marcia), Kyle, Melissa (Matthew), Adam (Lulu), Wendi, Bradley and great grandmother of Colin, Daniel, Alexandra, Rahim, Rachel, Daniel, Ben and Alec. Dorothy is survived by her brother Ted and her sister Jean, and she was predeceased by her brothers Wally, Ernie and Art and her sisters Evelyn and Norma. The family of Dorothy Robinson will receive friends at the WAGG FUNERAL HOME, "McDermott-Panabaker Chapel" 216 Queen Street in Port Perry (905-985-2171) on Tuesday, May 20th from 7 - 9 p.m. A Service to celebrate her life will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday, May 21st at 2 p.m. with Reverend Bruce McCallum officiating. Private interment St. Margaret in the Pines Cemetery. If desired, memorial donations may be made by cheque to the Port Perry Hospital Foundation or the Anglican Church of the Ascension in Port Perry. On-line condolences may be left at www.waggfuneralhome.com *************** To Dolly/Mom/Grandma Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother: Family relationships – complex and simple, loving and messy, important and enduring. Family was the centre of Grandma’s life. Until Grandpa retired and they moved to Port Perry, Grandma never moved far from her parent’s home in Highland Creek. Living just around the corner, she made a daily visit to her Mom and Dad. She always had the kettle on to welcome frequent visits from her siblings. Who can forget Uncle Wally and his smelly cigar joining in a game of euchre around the kitchen table? Grandma bustled around making sure everyone had enough food and Grandpa was "poking the pig" and dealing backwards for good luck. Grandma and her sister Norma enjoyed weekly outings, shopping at Five Points Mall or Cobourg or visiting Cullen Gardens. Aunt Jean also lived close by and her son Teddy made "Aunt Dolly’s" his second home. Dolly’s house was the gathering place for her family. Grandma had five children. Ken was the first baby, the first married; he gave Grandma her first grandchild and first great-grandchild. Grandma enjoyed her many drives in Uncle Ken’s orange and blue cars. She also enjoyed handing over the job of washing and ironing the white shirts for Ken’s job at the I.G.A. to his wife Frances. Jeannie, the first born daughter, made Grandma proud with her academic achievements and her singing in the church choir. Aunt Jean also gave Grandma an opportunity to enjoy traveling on their many summer trips. Jimmy was Grandma’s soul mate, always there for her. When Uncle Jim bought his first car, he also purchased camping equipment, and took Grandma on many memorable holidays. When Grandma and Grandpa retired to Port Perry, Jimmy was with them, assisting in the upkeep of their home. Diane provided Grandma with a spirit of adventure which she loved. When Diane set her sights on a trip to Mexico with the Girl Guides, Grandma sold popcorn and allowed her living room to be turned into a greenhouse for Easter lilies. Paul, the baby of the family, was Grandma’s cute little boy. Grandma was always amused by Paul’s strange eating habits as a child. Tomato soup and peanut butter on hot dogs was his exclusive diet. Grandma delighted in her eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, one of eight children herself. She always had ice cream treats, cookies and candy for us. We all remember the treat bags we took home when we left Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. At Grandma’s we loved playing board games, doing jigsaw puzzles and visiting "Western Days." She taught her granddaughters to knit and always laughed at our jokes even if she didn’t understand them. Sleepovers at Grandma’s house were always fun and she made the very best buttered toast for a bedtime snack. Grandma never had the words to express what was in her heart. If Grandma had the eloquence of a poet, I know that she would tell her children , grandchildren and great-grandchildren these words written by Mary Anne Radmacher. "You are the laughter at the end of my story. You are the applause which welcomes my performance. You are the ribbon and wrap on the finest gifts of my life. Loving you is the exclamation point on the sentence of my day!" May 21, 2008