Obituary of Dorothy Cruickshank

Dorothy Ellen Cruickshank, of Wingham passed away at the Wingham and District Hospital on March 30, 2021 in her 95th year.

Dorothy was the beloved wife of the late Gerald William "Bud" Cruickshank who predeceased her in 2001 after 54 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of Mary Ann Cruickshank of Goderich, Ellen Smith (Barry) of London, Steve Cruickshank (Barbara Wallace) of Owen Sound and Kate Brown (Michael) of Grand Bend. She was the cherished "Nana" of Matthew Smith (Sara), Daniel Smith (Candice), Lucas Cruickshank (Erika), Scott Cruickshank (Jeanette), Emily Brown (Nick Salari), Wesley Brown (Brooke Burnet) and Madison Brown (Peter D'Attoma). Dorothy was also the special "Great Nana" to Jack and Sam Smith, Charlie Smith and Wade Cruickshank.

Dorothy will be lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law Jean Wade as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Clarence Wade of Belgrave, her mother and father-in-law, Mabel and Wilford Thomas "Doc" Cruickshank of Wingham, her daughter-in-law Marilyn Cruickshank (2013), her brother Tom Wade (2016), her sister-in-law Lois McCall (2020), and her nephew Donald McCall (2020).

During the Second World War, she was a proud volunteer with many other young Ontario women who kept the provincial farms working productively with the "Farmerettes". Dorothy briefly taught school in a one-room school house near Belgrave before starting her family. Fond of her community, Dorothy was a long-time member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Wingham where she taught Sunday School and sang in the church choir. She also volunteered at The Gift Shoppe in The Wingham and District Hospital. A talented local artist known for her drawings and paintings in water colours, she was a member of the Wingham Art Club, and her work was displayed at numerous local art exhibitions. Dorothy loved to travel near and far: she saw many parts of Canada, The British Isles, Europe, Hawaii and many more sunny destinations. Her favourite place on Earth was her cottage on the shore of Lake Huron where she spent over 50 years with family and friends for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and other family events. The greatest joy in Dorothy's life was her family!

Special thanks are extended to the staff at Sepoy Manor in Lucknow, where Dorothy lived in her later years, to Doctors Shaun and Bonnie Marshall and the second floor nursing staff of Wingham and District Hospital for their care and kindness.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions, there will be no visitation or service. A private family service and burial will take place at Dorothy's final resting place, the Wingham Cemetery. Memorial donations to Wingham and District Hospital or St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, or St. Paul's Trinity-Anglican Church, both in Wingham, would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

All things beloved live on in our hearts forever.