Dorothy Hope Kerr (nee Wigmore)

December 25, 2020

Dorothy Hope Kerr (nee Wigmore) February 12 1922 December 25 2020 After a long and happy life, Dorothy passed away at the age of 98 on Christmas Day- one of her favourite days of the year. Dorothy was predeceased by her loving husband Charles Arthur (Art) and her seven siblings Versey (and Margaret) Wigmore, Doug (and Dorothy) Wigmore, Dick (and Betty) Wigmore, Ruth (and Elliot) Hudson, Shirley (and Gord) Halladay, Bill (and Shirley) Wigmore and Bob Wigmore. She is survived by her two children Ted (Janet Karry) Kerr and Janet (Randy Hall) Kerr-Hall, and her three grandchildren, Matthew (Brianna), Jonathan (Kiersten), and Megan (Michael) Hall, along with her sister-in-laws June Wigmore, Patsy, Dot, and Mabel Kerr and her many Wigmore and Kerr nieces and nephews. Throughout her life, Dorothy was known by many names. She had the nickname of Rusty for her red hair as a child, Dorrie to the Wigmore clan, Art’s Dot to the Kerr family, and of course Dorothy. Possibly her favourite names were sister, aunt, mom and grandma. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, never hesitating to play “camping” in the basement or sliding down the hill in the backyard in a cardboard box during a snow day with the grandkids. An amazing woman, she had a real zest for life, playing tennis at her beloved Kew Gardens Tennis Club several times a week until she was 90, and bridge into her mid 90s. She also spent many happy hours on the badminton court and camping throughout Canada well into her 80’s. She used to downhill ski and was an early adopter of x-country skiing when it first became popular in Canada. Many pleasurable hours were spent in her garden on Kenilworth Ave. where she spent over 60 happy years. Dorothy grew up on Leslie Street in Toronto. Despite being brought up in poverty during the Depression, her family was loving and resilient. The Wigmore clan had a large garden and raised chickens to help feed their many mouths. They helped supplement their income by having paper routes throughout East Toronto. St. Clements Anglican Church was the touchstone for their religious and social life. When recently asked her secret for a long, healthy and happy life when getting tested for Covid-19 (fortunately negative), she said, “You should be content with what you have.” After suffering a stroke at 90, she moved back to Leslie St. at Avondale Retirement home where she spent the last 8 years. Although it was difficult for her to give up her home, she was always pragmatic, saying that there were many people who were worse off than she was. Many thanks to the staff at Avondale Retirement Residence who provided a bright, friendly and supportive home, to the staff at Michael Garron Hospital for their excellent medical care and special thanks to the Michael Garron “Zoom” team that allowed the family daily virtual visits with Dorothy when in-person visits were not allowed. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a celebration of life will not be held at this time. Tributes to Dorothy may be posted online at www.aftercare.org. In lieu of flowers and donations, please take the time to connect with a senior in your life. It can be lonely growing old at the best of times. This is especially true during this pandemic. It is a Wigmore family tradition to play Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander’s 1848 Anglican hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful” at the end of all funerals and celebrations of life. Dorothy’s beautiful smile and generous spirit will not be forgotten. “All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, 'The Lord God made them all.”