Obituary for Dorothy Manning Williams (Lewis)
July 1, 1924 – Feb 17, 2020
With gratitude for her life, we announce the peaceful death of Dorothy Williams. Dot was a 62 year
resident of Burlington, ON with her husband Basil. Over the years, she was actively involved in the Red
Cross, Crescent School, Port Nelson United Church, the Halton Quilters Guild (Oakville), and Richview
Golf and Country Club. But Dot always called Nova Scotia her home. Dorothy was born in Yarmouth, the
second daughter of Henry C. and Pauline L. (Manning) Lewis and moved at age 9 to Halifax. She enjoyed
high school track, sailing, and set the Maritimes record for girl’s breast stroke in grade 9. Education was
valued in Dot’s family. She attended Mount Allison University 1941-43 to study home economics before
moving to Montreal to complete her Registered Nursing certification at the Royal Victoria Hospital in
1946. There she met and in 1947 married her husband, Wm. Basil Owen Williams. Dot loved pediatric
community nursing and later stayed home to raise their 3 children Lewis, Linda, and Lorraine. The family
moved to Burlington in 1954. Family life was a source of pride and delight for Dot. She taught her
children to think of others and to enjoy nature, and to garden, swim, golf, roll pie dough, knit, quilt and
hug.
Dot welcomed her children’s blended families. In addition to Lewis (Mary Shea), Linda (Gerry Shoalts)
and Lorraine (Paul Campbell), Dot leaves behind her grandchildren: Marisa Shea Bailey (Evan) and Liam
Shea Williams (Alea); Leah (Philippe) and Sophia (Aaron) Erdahl, Paula Washington (Peter); Stephen,
Alana, and Ian (Sarah) Seldon; Kirsten, Andrew and Moira Campbell and great-grandchild Ella Erdahl. Dot
will be deeply missed by her beloved sisters Pauline Hale of Perth, ON and Mollie Hardy (Oscar) of Indian
Point, NS, sister-in-law Eva Winterbourne, the many nieces and nephews whom she knew well, and
cousin Mary (Lonergan) Eldridge (Peter). Dot was predeceased by Basil (2001) and infant grandson
Thomas Erdahl (1986).
Acts of kindness and service to others threaded throughout all of Dorothy’s 95 years, 7 months and 17
days. In lieu of flowers, please think of Dot as you seek out someone who is hungry to feed, or someone
who is distressed to comfort, or someone who is lonely to spend time with. Donations to Sleeping
Children Around the World are also appreciated http://www.scaw.org/donations-home. Cremation arrangements were made through Smith’s Funeral Home, Burlington. Memorial and enichement at Burlington Memorial Gardens will occur at a later date.
With gratitude for her life, we announce the peaceful death of Dorothy Williams. Dot was a 62 year
resident of Burlington, ON with her husband Basil. Over the years, she was actively involved in the Red
Cross, Crescent School, Port Nelson United Church, the Halton Quilters Guild (Oakville), and Richview
Golf and Country Club. But Dot always called Nova Scotia her home. Dorothy was born in Yarmouth, the
second daughter of Henry C. and Pauline L. (Manning) Lewis and moved at age 9 to Halifax. She enjoyed
high school track, sailing, and set the Maritimes record for girl’s breast stroke in grade 9. Education was
valued in Dot’s family. She attended Mount Allison University 1941-43 to study home economics before
moving to Montreal to complete her Registered Nursing certification at the Royal Victoria Hospital in
1946. There she met and in 1947 married her husband, Wm. Basil Owen Williams. Dot loved pediatric
community nursing and later stayed home to raise their 3 children Lewis, Linda, and Lorraine. The family
moved to Burlington in 1954. Family life was a source of pride and delight for Dot. She taught her
children to think of others and to enjoy nature, and to garden, swim, golf, roll pie dough, knit, quilt and
hug.
Dot welcomed her children’s blended families. In addition to Lewis (Mary Shea), Linda (Gerry Shoalts)
and Lorraine (Paul Campbell), Dot leaves behind her grandchildren: Marisa Shea Bailey (Evan) and Liam
Shea Williams (Alea); Leah (Philippe) and Sophia (Aaron) Erdahl, Paula Washington (Peter); Stephen,
Alana, and Ian (Sarah) Seldon; Kirsten, Andrew and Moira Campbell and great-grandchild Ella Erdahl. Dot
will be deeply missed by her beloved sisters Pauline Hale of Perth, ON and Mollie Hardy (Oscar) of Indian
Point, NS, sister-in-law Eva Winterbourne, the many nieces and nephews whom she knew well, and
cousin Mary (Lonergan) Eldridge (Peter). Dot was predeceased by Basil (2001) and infant grandson
Thomas Erdahl (1986).
Acts of kindness and service to others threaded throughout all of Dorothy’s 95 years, 7 months and 17
days. In lieu of flowers, please think of Dot as you seek out someone who is hungry to feed, or someone
who is distressed to comfort, or someone who is lonely to spend time with. Donations to Sleeping
Children Around the World are also appreciated http://www.scaw.org/donations-home. Cremation arrangements were made through Smith’s Funeral Home, Burlington. Memorial and enichement at Burlington Memorial Gardens will occur at a later date.