Obituary of Dorothy Gleason

Peacefully at the Dr. John Gillis Memorial Lodge, Belfast on Saturday September 2, 2023 the death occurred of Dorothy Melinda May Gleason (Boyden), of Stratford PEI and formerly of Alberta and Ontario, aged 90 years.

Loving mother of Michael (Tracey) and Patrick Gleason. Grandma Dot to Josh, Laura, Kelly, Charlie, Landon, Greyson, Adriana and  Ayden. Predeceased by her husband Stan Gleason.

Dorothy was a farm girl from Alberta who loved to laugh and helped others to laugh. Born in 1932, she grew up in hard times and tended to put things in a safe place and keep for later ("in case") rather than discard.

She left the family farm to enlist in the RCAF. She met her future husband in St. Margarets, NB. Both were stationed at the radar station. At the time they met, Dorothy was required to leave the force if she wished to marry Stanley. She did; converted to Catholicism; they were married and lived happily ever after. She loved their family of two boys.

Dorothy cultivated flowers ( even liked the flowering weeds ) and had vegetable gardens. She knit and did arts and crafts. Is belly dancing a craft or an art?

She disliked housework. She was a chef and relished being in a kitchen. Except for the dishes. She was able to combine her love for children and food by providing the daily meal program for children in a nuns’ daycare. She was well known for her homemade bread which she was quick to donate to church/community fund raisers.

Dot enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people. She toured Europe and has seen most of Canada. 

After moving to the Island, she became a member of the Stratford Seniors. She was often questioned about her loop knitting. Baby toques to the QEH natal unit as well as to Gifts From the Heart, to whom she also donated adult sizes. The Thursday offshoot donated knitted kitten blankets.

Dorothy let everyone be themselves and loved them for themselves.

Resting at Hillsboro Funeral Home, Stratford.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated from Our Lady of the Assumption Church on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 10:30 am. No visitation by personal request.

Memorial donations may be made online to the PEI Alzheimer's Society.