Dorothy Emily Bell (nee Smith)

July 10, 1937 to September 22, 2022 

Dorothy, the oldest of three children, was born in 1937, in the family house where she was raised, on a small farm located in what is now the rural municipality of Glen Mary in Saskatchewan, on the North half of the South half of Section 11, Township 48, Range 21, West of the Second Meridian. Her grandmother Smith was the midwife, and there Dorothy came of age in this small house experiencing no indoor plumbing or electricity until she left for the big city to finish her grade 12 education. 

She started her education in Pahonan School (“the meeting place” in the Cree language), which was a small 2-room schoolhouse close to the forks of the Saskatchewan River. Dorothy loved to tell stories. One of the favourites was the story about how she and her cousin were the only English-speaking students in her small class of 15 – the rest spoke either Norwegian, Swedish, or Cree. A few years after she started school, the school was expanded to include space for shops classes for the boys and cooking, sewing, knitting, and crocheting for the girls. The school only went to grade 11, and Dorothy was encouraged to attend grade 12 in Regina, where she enrolled in a private school run by the Sisters of St. John the Divine. 

After graduation, in the fall of 1955, she enrolled in a program at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon and graduated in 1956 with her nursing diploma. Even though Dorothy’s career as a nurse was short, she remained in contact with many of the alumni of her nursing class throughout her life. 

After her RN graduation, her first job was at the University of Saskatchewan Hospital in Saskatoon where she worked on the pediatric ward. During nursing school, she met a young Engineering student named Harold Bell, who shared her Christian values. They became engaged in September of 1959, marrying on May 7, 1960, in the town of Kinistino, Saskatchewan, near the family’s farm. After the honeymoon, Harold’s first engineering job took them to Ottawa, Ontario. Prior to the birth of their children, Dorothy worked at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, also on the pediatric ward. 

Dorothy and Harold wasted little time in starting a family. Rob was born in November 1961, followed by Dave in April 1963, and Bruce in June of 1964. Between 1960 and 1972 the family lived in four different houses in Ottawa. Harold’s job briefly took them to Toronto from 1964 to 1966. In July of 1972 the family moved to Linacre Rd in Fort Richmond, Winnipeg, where they spent the next 50 years of their life until selling the family home in August of 2022. At the time of her passing Dorothy and Harold lived in Riverwood Square on Pembina Highway. 

While raising her boys, Dorothy was always an active volunteer at the schools they attended. She also generously gave her time to Winnipeg Harvest, St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, and the Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Winnipeg where she was a volunteer councillor for 5 years. 

In 1987, Dorothy and Harold bought a cottage at Victoria Beach where they spent every summer until 2017. The Cottage was a place of much joy and was their own special “Pahonan.” It was there that she got to know her grandchildren. Dorothy and Harold were generous in inviting family and friends to share their time at the cottage. The Bunkhouse they built for guests, had engraved name tags to welcome all into their fold. 

Dorothy went to be with the Lord on the evening of September 22, 2022, where she died peacefully at home with Harold nearby. She is mourned by her husband Harold of 62 years, her three sons and their families: Rob (Arlene) and their son Bohdan (Melissa); Dave (Kim) and Dave’s children Aimee, Ashley, and Matthew; and Bruce (Candice) and their children Nick (Sarah) and Taylor. She is survived by her brother Henry Smith (Pat), her sister Marie Edey (John) both of Edmonton, Alberta and many nieces and nephews across the country. While much of Dorothy’s family lived in Alberta and other parts of Canada, Dorothy felt it important to remain in Winnipeg to support her children and watch her grandchildren grow. 

Central to Dorothy’s life was her relationship to her faith and her committed involvement to the Anglican Church. Dorothy and Harold have been faithful members of St. Aidan’s Anglican Church in Winnipeg since 1980. Dorothy was involved in many provincial and national conferences for the Anglican Church of Canada, the Cursillo movement in the 1980s and was an Associate of the Sisters of St. John the Divine since 1988. She also did Liturgical embroidery, creating over 20 Stoles and other Vestments for Deacons to Bishops. Dorothy led an active prayer life and played a supportive role in many church member’s spiritual journeys in Winnipeg and across Canada. After she was no longer able to attend church in person, Dorothy continued her spiritual journey with the Sunday Mass and the Hour of Worship on TV and regularly received communion and blessings from St. Aidan’s Church leadership in her home. 

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Riverwood Square (especially Carmencita) for their kindness and compassion on the day of Dorothy’s passing. They would also like to thank Esther from Home Care and the many Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Services Personnel for their rapid response and kindness to Dorothy. 

With grace, the family would like to thank Pastor Rev. Dave Labdon and Lay Pastor Chris Barnes – from St. Aidan’s Anglican Church. They also extend thanks to all the St. Aidan’s parishioners active in the “house churches” over many years. 

A Celebration of Life for Dorothy will take place on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 11:00 AM at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, 274 Campbell Street, Winnipeg. If unable to attend in person, please visit https://www.staidanswinnipeg.ca/worship-online.html. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Crisis Pregnancy Centre www.pregnancy.ca.

Dorothy will be remembered as a loving servant of the Lord. To all who loved Dorothy, she sends her greetings: “I love you and you are special”.