Dorothy Helen Knight

Dorothy Helen Knight Born the fourth child of six, to Margaret Collins and Charles Guy Knight on May 20th 1929 in Toronto Ontario. Dorothy graduated from University of Toronto as a Registered Nurse in the early 50’s and began her career as a staff nurse at Detroit Children’s Hospital in 1956. The following year she travelled to Baffin Island, Territory of Nuvavut Inuits, where at the time the Inuit had no exposure to outsiders and Dorothy was the sole nurse practitioner. Her year on Baffin Island inspired a novel titled “Lutiapik: the little one who care for us” written by late journalist, and Dorothy’s life partner Betty Lee. In 1958 Dorothy accepted a post as Head Nurse at Toronto East General and a few years later headed to Kapuskasing, Ontario as Chief of the Generalized Public Health Program. In 1964 she held a position with the World Health Organization working in Lesotho, South Africa until 1968. In the early 80’s she founded her own business, Para-Med Health Services based in Oakville, Ontario. In addition to her various roles she conducted studies to determine the efficacy of ambulant versus institutional care in Lesotho S. Africa; was a consulting associate to provide programs under the proposed Health Protection Act in Ontario; published an African Country’s first medical resources inventory and in public health she wrote and published an illustrated manual of procedure for a National Tuberculosis Control Program. Dorothy was always passionate about pursuing her education and took classes well into her 80’s at University of Toronto and Ryerson University. Among the many subjects she studied one of the last was computer programming. One of Dorothy’s proudest moments was being included in the “Who’s Who of Canadian Women” – the first edition in 1984. She was a pioneer in so many ways. She was loved, respected, and adored by her family, and friends. Her independence and courage were an inspiration to all who knew her. Dorothy was known with affection as a straight shooter who didn’t mince her words. Despite her petite size, there are fond memories of her voracious appetite. You had to eat fast if sharing a meal with Dorothy. She was a passionate advocate for Euthanasia and fought for its legalization, believing that one has the inalienable right to end one’s own life when struck with an incurable debilitating disease. Dorothy died from an extended battle with Dementia on April 20, 2024 just a month shy of her 95th birthday. She would have fought for and demanded a much earlier end to what was not “life” – simply a body that didn’t give up. Having outlived her spouse Betty Lee and all her siblings, she leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews as well as special friends Helen, Bonnie, Sheila and many others. “Who made the world? Who made the swan and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean – the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down – who is gazing around with enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open and floats away. I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Olivier Poem 133: The Summer Day Dorothy had a plan. As per Dorothy’s wishes cremation has taken place. A date for the scattering of her ashes will be shared with family and friends once details have been finalized.