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Dorothy CHUNN Obituary

DR. DOROTHY ELLEN CHUNN On the afternoon of December 27, 2022, at Sechelt Hospital on BC's Sunshine Coast, Dr. Dorothy Ellen Chunn, emeritus professor of sociology at Simon Fraser University, peacefully left this life in her 80th year, with her loving partner of more than four decades, Dr. Robert (Bob) Menzies, by her side. In the end it was pneumonia that mercifully delivered Dorothy from the protracted cruelties of Parkinson's disease and dementia. Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, Allan and Margaret (Bain) Chunn, and by her beloved lab-ridgeback cross, Leo. She is survived by Bob; by her siblings, Lorna Tyler (Dave) and Russell Chunn (Maggie); by cousins, nieces, nephew, and great-niece/nephews dwelling near and far; and by a legion of dear friends, collaborators, colleagues, and former students across Canada and around the globe. Dorothy was born in Winnipeg, MB and came of age in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC. Following her graduation from the University of British Columbia, Dorothy taught history and English at secondary schools in Prince George and Gold River, BC. Thereafter she relocated to Ontario, earned her doctorate in sociology from the University of Toronto, and embarked on a long and distinguished academic career that spanned sessional term postings at St. Francis Xavier University and UBC; an adjunct appointment in the UBC Faculty of Law; and a permanent tenured position at Simon Fraser University where Dorothy taught for a quarter-century, first in Criminology, then in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, fast rising through the ranks to attain Full Professorship. Dorothy was a prolific socio-legal scholar (with 13 books and countless articles/reports/reviews to her credit), a dedicated feminist, an inspiring teacher, a poised public speaker, a devoted daughter and sister, a steadfast friend and colleague, an adventurous world traveller, a lover of literature and film, and a joyful, tender, and tolerant life partner. Dorothy's exceptional intellect was leavened by her abiding modesty, grace, humanity, and sense of fun. For several years following her 2011 retirement from SFU, Dorothy continued to supervise graduate students and to pursue multiple research and writing projects in the valued company of longtime colleagues. She travelled widely and embraced life in her adored Roberts Creek home, stationed within a stone's throw of the Salish Sea. An incalculable debt is owed the caregivers, nursing staff, and medical practitioners - far too numerous to list individually - who did so much to ease Dorothy's long journey through chronic disability and terminal illness. We extend gratitude, in particular, to the Vancouver Coastal Health and Nurse Next Door Home Care Services, to the Sechelt Medical Clinic, to the Shorncliffe Intermediate Care Home, and to Sechelt Hospital. Donations in Dr. Chunn's memory may be directed to any one (or more) of the following organizations: Downtown Eastside Women's Centre (Vancouver), Parkinson Society of BC, Sechelt Hospital Foundation, or BC SPCA (Sunshine Coast). Amid continuing pandemic concerns and other logistical constraints, plans for a memorial gathering/celebration of life are deferred to a later date.

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Published by The Globe and Mail from Dec. 31, 2022 to Jan. 4, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Dorothy CHUNN

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6 Entries

Allegra Mills

April 26, 2023

I´m so sad to learn of Dr. Chunn´s passing. She was one of my most memorable sociology professors at SFU. She was kind and thoughtful, and she allowed a diversity of thought and perspectives to flourish in her class. She was a rare jewel.

Kayla (Brown) Hubenig

January 8, 2023

Lorna, so sorry about your sister. Here I have been thinking about you and your sister was in the same community.

Sally Smith

January 3, 2023

May I offer my sincere condolences.

Dorothy and I shared an apartment in Toronto's Annex neighborhood in the late 1960s, when she was studying postgrad sociology at UofT. I will always remember her as poised and engaging, accommodating and gracious. She was instinctively interested in the wider world, and always concerned for the underdog. In short, she was an accomplished, compassionate woman who had an unusually deep understanding of the human condition.

R.I.P., Dorothy

Sally (Lewis) Smith

Guelph ON

Patricia (Patty) Wright (nee Chunn)

January 1, 2023

So sorry to hear of cousin Dorothy's death. She was an amazing woman. Sending sincere condolences.

Susan B. Boyd

January 1, 2023

I´ll miss Dorothy so much as a dear friend, treasured co-author and co-conspirator, important feminist and socio-legal scholar. Her work had a great deal of influence on mine. We also enjoyed eating sushi together!

Peter Johnson

December 31, 2022

Summer's end came faster than we wanted...

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Memorial Events
for Dorothy CHUNN

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