DOROTHY JOHNSTON

It is with much sadness that the family of Dorothy Mae Johnston (Goodwill) announces her passing at Hogarth Riverview Manor on August 9, 2025, with family by her side. Dorothy was born in Glenwood Municipality August 26, 1927, to parents William and Minnie Goodwill, and grew up on the family farm near Souris, Manitoba. She was the 7th of 11 children and being near the middle of such a large family gave her the opportunity to grow up with and be close to all of her siblings. She had many fond memories and stories of the mischief they managed to get into.

Dorothy had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel, often to visit her family as they spread out across Canada. In her younger years she traveled with friends to the west coast, into the United States, and northern Manitoba, and to Europe for 6 months with her cousin. Dorothy met her future husband Allister in 1956, but their lives went in different directions for several years until their paths crossed again when she was working in Hamiota and he was home visiting his family. In 1962 they were married and mom moved to Port Arthur where dad had been working for TCPL for a few years. Their family became mom's main focus when Wayne arrived in 1963 followed by Gail a couple years later. In 1967 we moved to the family home on Marion Street where mom lived until 2024.

Mom was a stay-at-home mom - the kind that baked cookies and made popsicles for all the neighborhood kids, volunteered at the school and went on field trips. She was very involved in Current River United Church, teaching Sunday School, volunteering in the office, on council, and helping to organize and work at many teas, bake sales, yard sales, silent auctions and fundraisers over the years. She was also very crafty and tried almost everything from pottery and basket weaving to sewing and especially knitting. She attended the weekly "Craft Class" at Current River United Church for over 50 years.

Her love of travel never ceased, and the family made annual trips to Manitoba and across Canada. In retirement, mom and dad traveled Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland, spent a few winters in Arizona and Texas, cruised to Alaska, took their dream trip to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji, and made countless trips back and forth to Manitoba. Any and every special occasion or family gathering was all that was needed for mom to plan a trip. They were happy to travel less and spend more time at home and in Ottawa when the grandchildren were born. Mom was even happier when family and friends from across the country came to visit, even if it was only an overnight stop on a longer journey. Her 90th birthday brought her so much joy, when over 40 relatives from across the country traveled to Thunder Bay to help her celebrate.

Dorothy was predeceased by Allister in 2015; her parents; sisters Mabel (Earl) Johnson, Irene (Gordon) Brennan, Bella (Tom) Finlayson, Evelyn (Earle) Roney, Marge (Jack) McKinnon, Leona (Allin) Shewfelt; brothers Bill (Agnes), Jim, John (Joan), Ross; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Carlyle (Catherine) Johnston, Barry (Mary) Johnston, and Don Church.

She is survived and lovingly remembered by Wayne and Vida Johnston, Gail and Ron Iwanonkiw, Caitlin (Niko) Lee-Yow, Erin Johnston, Alyssa (Paul) Iwanonkiw, Greg (Neil) Iwanonkiw; sisters-in-law Patricia Goodwill and Joyce Church and many, many nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the staff of Hogarth Riverview Manor for their care in Dorothy's later years.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in the R. Leino Memorial Chapel in Harbourview Funeral Centre. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service.

Should friends so desire, donations to St Joseph's Foundation, or the charity of their choice will be appreciated.

Condolences may be offered at www.harbourviewfuneral.ca