Obituaries

Dorothy May Herron (nee McGarva)

July 15, 1940 - February 27, 2020

DOROTHY MAE HERRON

(NEE MCGARVA)

 

Dorothy Mae Herron (McGarva), age 79, died peacefully at home on Thursday, February 26, 2020 from heart failure. She was born on July 15, 1940 in Winnipeg to William and Sarah (Roberts) McGarva. Dorothy is survived by her husband of 58 years Sheldon Herron, her two children Zane Oak and Scott Herron, her sister Margaret Newton and brother Don McGarva.

Dorothy spent the first 17 years of her life growing up on Maryland Avenue in Winnipeg before her family moved to Dominion Street. She continued to tell stories about this time in her life and always enjoyed driving through her old neighborhoods and retelling events from her life. Dorothy was proud of her Scottish – Welsh heritage, and in her youth was an accomplished highland dancer and member of the Robbie Burns Society. Dorothy played the bag pipes and was a proud and long-standing member of Winnipeg’s Heather Belles Pipe Band along with her sister Margaret.

After finishing high school, Dorothy earned her teacher’s certification. She taught physical education at Silver Heights and Earl Grey high schools. Dorothy gave up her teaching career in the late 1960’s and began working at Westwood Drugs, a neighborhood store close to her home. She continued working at the drug store through multiple owners, and expansions until 2010. The importance of the relationships with her friends/coworkers from the drug store was evident by how they continue to regularly meet for group dinners or breakfasts.

In 1967 Dorothy and Sheldon purchased a house on Shelley Street in the Westwood area of Winnipeg. Dorothy always enjoyed visiting with both long-term and recent neighbors. With Sheldon at her side she enjoyed taking an evening stroll along Shelley Street stopping to visit with anyone she passed along the way. She was known for always commenting that ‘at least there are no mosquitos.’

In 1970 Dorothy’s family purchased a beach front cottage at Twin Beaches on the eastern side of Lake Manitoba. ‘The Lake’ continued to be her absolute favourite place to be, with countless evenings spent sitting along ‘the wall’ watching the orange-red sun disappear below the water. Dorothy loved walking along the beach or the road and visiting with her many long-term cottage neighbours.

With the support and care of Sheldon, Dorothy was able to continue living independently in their house on Shelley Street. Her last day was spent in comfort doing the things she most enjoyed: cooking eggs for breakfast, drinking coffee, reading the newspaper, going for a walk and visiting with neighbours, and in the evening eating ice cream and watching reruns of her favorite television shows.

The family has decided not to hold a memorial event at this time.

Condolences may be sent to www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com