Dorothy Susan Lawson Wood

It is with much grief and great sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy Susan Wood (Beveridge).  She died on November 21, 2024, at the age of 88. She passed peacefully at the Pine Valley Long Term Care residence in Hinton, Alberta.

Dorothy was born on July 19, 1936, in Toronto, Ontario.  She was the third child of her Scottish immigrant parents, James and Susan Beveridge. The “baby of the family,” she had one brother, Alex (10 years her senior) and one sister, Margaret (7 years older). When she was 20 years old, she followed her brother Alex and his wife Mary and their young family out west to Edmonton, Alberta. In Edmonton she found her passion for ballroom dance, competing and teaching in one way or another, well into her 60’s.

Dorothy left the dance world and became a mother in June of 1966, when her daughter Maureen was born. Single mothers were not common in the 1960’s, but Dorothy and Maureen had lots of love and support from her brother and sister-in-law.  In January of 1970, Dorothy married David Wood, their son Charles was born in April 1971. The family moved to St. Albert in 1974 and then to Hinton in 1981. She had rekindled her passion for teaching ballroom dance and offered instruction at the YWCA in Edmonton, as well as in schools and in her own basement studio when she was in Hinton. She always had a love for music, singing and dancing in community theatre. She was a member of many local choirs in Hinton as well. The music in her heart kept her toes tapping and a smile on her face.

In 2015, Dorothy and Dave moved into an assisted living Seniors residence in Kelowna, British Columbia, after Dorothy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. They lived together in Kelowna, until Dorothy’s illness progressed to the point that she needed Long Term care.  She was moved back to Hinton where Maureen became her primary care partner for her remaining years. She lived in Hinton’s Continuing Care dementia cottage for 3 difficult years before moving to Pine Valley Lodge for her last 15 months.

Dorothy’s true love was for her children and grandsons. All she wanted was for them to feel loved and be happy in life. Though she hated cooking and didn’t often bake, there were always cookies in the tin and the kettle went on at 4:00 everyday for teatime. Many of life’s problems were solved over two cookies and a cup of tea!

They say Alzheimer’s is the long good-bye, but we are grateful that until very close to the end, she could still share a cookie, enjoy the music and hold hands. Left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Maureen Wood-Engerdahl and Don Engerdahl of Hinton, Alberta, her son, Charles Wood of Nanaimo, British Columbia, grandsons Alex Engerdahl of Hinton and Logan Pump of Nanaimo, nieces, Lorraine Perron of Kelowna, British Columbia and Susan Eaton of Aurora, Ontario.

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, her siblings and her nephew Scott Day. There will be no service at this time. A gathering to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be planned for the summer of 2025.

If so inclined, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“Holding your hand for the last time was the second most difficult thing I ever had to do.

  Letting go of your hand for the last time, was the first. 

You are my sunshine and I love you a bushel and a peck.”

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