Saturday, September 21, 2024
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December 2016, my adorable aunt "Dot" with her two sons, Adam and Nate. Dorothy had been in respite care, but largely at my urging was brought home to pass away in the home she had spent her entire life in - at 52 Bloomsgrove, in Port Hope. Dorothy was always a very proud member of her community and had many incredible memories of the days of yore. I recall a horse drawn cutter that was on the balcony of her home, and built by her family, who used to run the carriage company at the foot of Carriage Hill in Port Hope. Following the flood of 1980 my wife Tina and my baby son, Edward, stayed with Dot and Uncle Cole as guests at their home, and after moving away for a few years we are welcomed back to stay for a while as we got reestablished in the community. Interestingly, my family stayed at Aunt Dot and Uncle Cole's place, way back in the 1960s as we were in transit to start a new life in England. I shall never forget my first (adult) Christmas in Canada as a guest at the Locke family table on Bloomsgrove, with an amazing banquet of food and joviality, with cousin Adam hitting the keys of the baby grand piano, that sat at the foot of the beautiful hardwood stairs. Dot owned the Port Hope Deli and I worked at the sign company that painted the signs and ensured that the word "Dot's" was subtly painted into the dot above the "i" in the word deli. Aunt Dot was elated, having a great appreciation for British humour. Rest in Peace Dorothy, I think of you often.
