Obituary of Dorothea Grace Smith
On Saturday, September 6th, just shy of her 89th birthday, beloved mother and friend, Dorothea “Dot” Grace Smith (née Bell) peacefully passed away.
A long-time resident of Lakefield, Ontario, Dot was predeceased by her loving husband of 63 years, Donald Smith. She was adored and will be greatly missed by her daughters Sharon Lee Smith (Martin) and Laurie Smith (Gabriel), as well as her granddaughters Edith Lamb and Vivian Lamb.
The daughter of missionary parents, Dot was born in Lanzhou, China, on September 22, 1936. She was predeceased by her parents, John Bell and Edith Bell (née Southward) and her sister Mary (Elmore). She will be remembered by her sister Ruth (Jim) of Chicago, and her brother Ken (Nancy) of Toronto, as well as her nieces and nephews: Stacey, Jeff, Kathy, Nori, David, Mary and Ruth.
After living in China and India until age nine, Dot moved to Toronto and attended North Toronto Collegiate. She graduated from nursing at Toronto Western Hospital and studied at the Neurological Institute in Montreal, where she made many lifelong friends and met the love of her life, Don.
Married in 1960, the couple relocated to Peterborough, where Dot worked at the Peterborough Civic Hospital as an ICU and ER nurse. This was followed by many years living in Mississauga, where she worked at the West Park Healthcare Centre.
A skilled gardener, Dot was active with the Lakefield Horticultural Society, where she spent many years beautifying the village and organizing trips to see botanical gardens across the province.
She will be remembered for her outgoing personality and as a loyal friend and member of the Winfield Shores community.
Most of all, she was dedicated to “her Don,” and enjoyed waterfront life on Stony and Anstruther lakes with her family, friends and many dogs, and boating along the Trent-Severn Waterway.
Dot’s family would like to thank the Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s rehab, ER and palliative teams, as well as the dedicated and compassionate staff of Extendicare Peterborough, especially the nurses and PSWs of Rose Terrace.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 P.M. on November 15th, 2025, at the Marshland Centre, 64 Hague Blvd, Lakefield.
Memorial donations may be made to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre - Palliative Care - to do so, contact the funeral home at www.hendrenfuneralhome.com or by calling 705-652-3355.
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