1931-2024
Dorothy Pelletier (nee Novitsky), wife of John ‘Jack’ Pelletier, mother to Jeff, Kevin (Michel, Gabrielle, Bernadette, Veronique), and Dale (Jenny), sister-in-law, godmother, gān mā, aunt, and dear friend to many, passed away January 12, 2024.
Dorothy ‘Dot’ was born to Joseph and Stella Novitsky on May 21,1931 in Cochrane Ontario. She was sister to Irene (Maurice), Josephine (Earl), and Jim (Pat). Dorothy loved to reminisce about her idyllic childhood days – collecting blueberries with her mom and sisters along the train tracks, skating on and swimming in the town’s central lake, and helping her father and brother with house and farm projects.
After completing high school, Dorothy moved to Ottawa to attend Willis Business College. While living on Booth Street with her sister Jo, she met John (RCAF). John, urged on by his grandfather to court Dorothy, succeeded in stealing her heart. Dorothy and John married in 1954 and spent many years travelling and living on European and Canadian military bases. Their final posting brought them back to Ottawa where, for the past 50 years, they have happily resided in the neighbourhood of Beacon Hill.
Knitting and sewing, gardening, making perogies, cooking and contributing baked goods to church and other social events, dancing and singing, spending time with family and friends at the lake, hosting gatherings for friends and family at the house, listening to music were all of Dorothy’s favourite things. Dorothy and John were fixtures in the neighbourhood - touring around on their bicycle-built-for-two, polka / two-stepping their way back home after ballroom dancing classes, and taking the gang out on cross-country ski excursions. During her final years, Dorothy liked nothing more than to sit on her front porch, talk to all, and try and coax the local dogs and cats in for a friendly scratch behind their ears.
Dorothy will be interred at Beechwood Cemetery. A private family funeral mass will be held at Annunciation of the Lord, and this will be followed by a springtime gravesite service and a Celebration of Life gathering (tentatively May 21). People interested in attending the spring service, please RSVP to dotandjack1954@gmail.com
The family would especially like to send a special thank you to the nurses and doctors at Montfort Hospital who provided compassionate and caring medical support. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Montfort Hospital Foundation. And a special thank you to Fathers John, Rob, and Kevin for their spiritual support and prayers.
Mom’s regular nighttime salutation was ….’love you more.’ Now is our time to love you more, remember you, and honour you.
Digital Guestbook
Kerri Novitsky
Karen Emmett
I adored Aunt Dot & will miss her & our many conversations . She had a joy for life and loved her family very much.
Cecilia Irene McCloskey
Ken and I will miss Dot as she and John used to sit on their front stoop and I would stop for a chat on my my walking route.
My Auntie Dot was a joy to be around
I loved her sense of humour and her laugh
I loved hearing her life stories
I loved looking through old pictures with her
I loved her curiosity in hearing other peoples life stories and pictures. She truly was interested!
I’m so sad she has passed but she had such a full and interesting life. I’ll miss her but happy she is at peace in heaven