Dorothy Mary Miller Hardinge (nee Elliott) passed away on October 12, 2018. She was in her 89th year. She was born May 15, 1930 in Melbourne Australia. She learned the Art of Elocution and was an accomplished singer and seamstress. She also had a motor scooter that she used to ferry herself around. She taught elementary school before she married and would continue to do so until she retired.

After marrying Arthur Hardinge, they set off to Canada for their grand adventure with daughter Karen in tow. Arthur had secured a position to work on the Avro Arrow.

Travelling together would become a big part of their lives. As we know Australians love to travel. Camping trips to Florida in the summer, sight seeing in Mexico, England, Taiwan, the States, and a number of trips back home are only of few of the trips they made together over the years.

They made a life together and eventually settled in Scarborough. Dorothy Mary was always busy. She became a mother to three children Karen (Gerry), Walter (Rita), and Douglas (Tracey) (Douglas predeceased his mother by three years); and she became a grandmother to Alex, Adam, Emily, Miriam, Payton and Jonah, and a great grandmother to Eleanor and Addison.

Dorothy Mary was a faithful member of the Church of the Epiphany, which later became Grace Church Scarborough. She attended the church for over fifty years. She sang in the choir for over forty years. She would attend the Ladies Service Thursday mornings with Father Lee. They would gather after those services and Father Lee’s two dachshunds would join them. She would have a table at the Fall Fair and join in with making of palm crosses so she could sample Mary Jane’s infamous soup each year.

Dorothy Mary was very creative. She knit, sewed, crotched, and drew. In the 70’s, Dorothy Mary widened her crafting skills with macramé, candle making, rug hooking, batiking and tie dying. She even made crepe paper flowers which were all the rage back then. She did all of this and went back to school to obtain her BA. She was a whirlwind of activity.

Her and Arthur became very involved in the Ontario Genealogical Society, attending meetings and researching their family’s history. One of their trips to England was for this purpose.

Throughout all of this, Dorothy Mary was kind, giving and loving. She had strong views on a number of issues which she would make known. But she always made room in her heart for everyone. She would become a fierce friend to many.

However, Dorothy Mary was plagued with many health issues, though as with much of her life, she did not let these things defeat her; rather she rose above them and continued on. When she lost her leg, she left the family home in Scarborough and moved into the Cardinal Ambrozic Homes for the Aged (Providence Health Care). There she made a new home. She joined in all the activities there were to offer with great enthusiasm.

Dorothy Mary never forgot her Australian roots. She would regale people with tales of her youth and her family. Although they were far away in distance, they were never far away from her heart. She kept in touch them the best she could. Her older sister Merna was a great influence on her life. Merna too was a teacher, and a mother of five boys. She predeceased Dorothy Mary by thirteen months.

Dorothy Mary was a woman with great presence. Generous in her time, her talents and her spirit, she will be missed by all who knew her, especially for her rendition of the Happy Birthday Song.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kennedy House Youth Services or Providence Health Care.

Always Loved Never to be Forgotten.

Visitation and funeral will be held at Grace Church Scarborough, 700 Kennedy Road, Scarborough.

The Visitation will be held on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Grace Church from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. There will be Visitation on the day of the funeral at 10:00 am, one hour prior to the service.