About Dorothy Pauling

On December 10th, 1921, Dorothy Helen Stewart, “Dot”, was born at the family homestead, the Stewart fruit orchards, located on what was known as “the Dixie Road” in Port Credit, (Mississauga), Ontario. She was the third of four children born to Ethel Emma Death and James Alderson Stewart. As a child, together with her two older brothers, Carl and Mel, and younger sister Jean, many happy summer days were spent picking fruit and playing on the farm, often eating most of their harvest before it could go to market. Dot attended Dixie Road Public School and Port Credit High School, followed by secretarial school. Sundays were spent at the Bethesda-Dixie United Church on Dundas Street West.
Dorothy met Norman C. Pauling while living in Swansea, Toronto. After marrying in February 1951, the young couple moved to Scarborough and quickly became part of the congregation of the fledgling Victoria Park United Church. As keen church supporters, Dot and Norm devoted their time and talents to building up the church, active in both church community groups and fundraising for the Christian Education facility built in 1961. Two daughters were born, Gail (1955), and Lynne (1957), and Dorothy became a devoted, loving mother who took much joy in her family. Many happy summers were spent with her sister’s family at their cottage on Gold Lake. Sundays were always “family day” that included dinners often shared during visits with other family members, or picnics enjoyed on nature hikes.
In 2001, Norman passed away and Dorothy moved into the Houses of Providence nursing facility in Scarborough. Over the intervening years, Dot made many new friends, enjoyed the activities and thrived on being in a busy environment with lots of friendship and laughter, surrounded by a loving caregiving team.
Dorothy will be remembered as a friendly, kind, and cheerful lady, who always greeted others with a smile.