Dorothy Joanne Palmer

It is with great sadness that the family announces that Dorothy passed away peacefully from a sudden illness at the age of 78 at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in Ottawa, Ontario on November 10, 2023.

 Survived by her daughters Kirsten and Erika (Matt Zulawski), lovingly remembered by her grandchild Sasha, and family and friends across Canada and abroad.

 Dorothy was born on September 22, 1945 to Jack Palmer and Rose MacKew in Windsor, Ontario. She spent most of her life in Ottawa, where she raised her family. Dorothy studied architecture at Carleton University, and spent her life designing the ideas in her mind. Her creative spirit is embodied in the homes she designed and renovated for her family and friends, always cutting edge for the time, with modern ideas that stood out in their uniqueness. She loved to sew, a skill she learned from her seamstress mom, and she created beautiful clothes and textiles for herself, her family, and friends.

 Many will remember Dorothy as a petite ball of energy, full of ideas and plans, always thinking of ways to solve a problem or help a friend out. She was a life-long student, returning to school in adulthood to write a master’s thesis, and later in life dreamed of writing a book that would help others. She had big dreams and never stopped pursuing them, even when her health wouldn’t allow her to move as quickly as she hoped. Dorothy was also deeply spiritual, and her beliefs provided her with great comfort, as well as connecting her to a community of friends that she valued immensely.

 Most of all, Dorothy will be remembered as a loving mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She spoke to all her friends proudly about the achievements of her daughters. She doted on her son-in-law and grandchild, and even with distance, built a special relationship with Sasha, who will always have fond memories of her Yaya.

 Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Ottawa Heart Institute  who showed great care and compassion at a very difficult time. The family requests that you consider a donation in lieu of flowers. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Tubman Funeral Homes, Garden Chapel, 3440 Richmond Road (between Baseline Road and Bayshore) on Saturday June 8, 2024 from 3 pm to 5 pm.