Dorothy Emma (Giebelhaus) Corser

A long life, well lived. Dorothy Emma Giebelhaus was born on October 25, 1926 in Vegreville, Alberta, the fourth of eight children born to farmers John A and Elisabeth Giebelhaus of Holden, Alberta. She grew up doing farm chores and going to school in a one-room schoolhouse on her grandfather’s farm, the Adam School. At eighth grade she “batched” with her sister Edna in Holden so that she could complete her education. After a talk given to the students by a public health nurse, Dorothy decided that was for her and at the time of her death, January 1, 2023, she was the last surviving registered nurse graduate of the Misericordia Hospital Class of 1947.

She met Richard Corser, freshly back from WW2 in the Pacific front of the American army, on a blind date. A couple of years later, November 3, 1950, Dick took his bride to Edson and the logging camp in “the bush” where she had her first child (Judy), living in a rough-hewn cabin with orange crates for cupboards and a bearskin rug on the floor.

From there they moved to Erith. Three more children followed—Clyde (1953), Craig (1955) and Don (1960) and Dorothy worked side by side with her husband, stepping in to the cookhouse to cook when the cook was drunk, keeping the books when there was no bookkeeper, raising her children, planting a huge garden, putting up and preserving food for the winter, picking berries, casting her line for pickerel in the Erith River and she still found time, when the kids were older, to volunteer extensively—for the Heart and Stroke Foundation doing blood pressure screening clinics, for the Edson nursing home, spending a day with the old fellows who wanted to get out to have pie, with the ladies who wanted to buy a lottery ticket, clipping toenails and playing cribbage. Her many volunteer efforts were rewarded with a special citation from the prime minister at the time, Joe Clark. Dorothy was active in many community activities including a long-time stint as treasurer of the United Church, teaching sewing at the community centre, learning to weave and taking pottery classes.

Dorothy always had time for others, whether it was writing a note to the bereaved—she was famous for her notes in her unusual distinctive handwriting—or stepping in as nurse for the children’s summer camps at Surprise Lake.

Dorothy and Dick travelled widely—Europe, Morocco, Jersey, the Caribbean, Japan, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and even India, to attend a grandson’s graduation. After Dick’s death in 2007 she continued to travel, always curious about other people, other places.

Dorothy died the peaceful death of the blessed in her sleep just hours into the new year. She leaves her children Judy (ex-Rob), Clyde (Robin), Craig (Kelly) and Don as well as nine beloved grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren as well as two sisters, Ruth Kruger and Lorraine Froelich, one brother, Earl Giebelhaus (Penny), her brother-in-law, Lorne Bell and her sister-in-law, Elsie Giebelhaus.

A celebration service to honour Dorothy’s life may be held sometime in the future, date and venue to be publicized. Any donations in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice. No flowers please.

Dorothy’s family are grateful to her caregiver and companion of many years, Aida Della Rosa, her long-time doctor, Dr. Alison Knight and her many friends at Parkland Lodge.

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