Obituary of Dorothy Louise NAWOLSKY (nee Krupka)

December 6, 1936 - Bienfait, Saskatchewan

May 11, 2020 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with profound sadness that the family of Dorothy Nawolsky announces her passing after a short battle with Covis-19. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Monday, May 11, 2020, at the age of 83 years.

Dorothy was born in Bienfait, SK, on December 6, 1936. She was proud to be a coal miner’s daughter. She made many life long friends growing up at the M&S Mine in Bienfait, Saskatchewan. She cherished her many childhood memories and always enjoyed sharing stories of growing up with her loving family and with her best friends Bev & Judy.

Dorothy was always a very gentle caring person. Her love for animals started at a very young age.  She told stories growing up with her dog Topsy and budgie named Peter. Even in recent years, she would always instantly smile when she had a visit from her cat Eve.

As she grew up, Dorothy’s desire to care for others took her to Regina where she graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Grey Nuns’ Hospital.  She was very proud to be a nurse and spent much of her nursing career focusing on the field of geriatrics in Estevan.

Dorothy met a handsome Petroleum Engineer named Russell that had moved to Estevan in 1957. Russell and Dorothy dated long distance at times. There were many funny stories of their courtship including how Dorothy suddenly developed a love for watching hockey games that Russ attended in Estevan. They were married on October 1, 1960, and spent 46 loving years together. They originally settled in Estevan but eventually followed many of their close friends in the oil industry to Calgary in 1969.

Dorothy and Russ settled down and grew strong roots in Calgary. They took great pride in raising their children Cathy, Jeff and Jason who all became Engineers in the oil industry. Dorothy would say, “I come from a family of three generations of Engineers", listing them off one by one, but she always ended off by proudly saying that her granddaughter Morgan became a nurse like her Nana!

Time spent as a family was cherished. Each summer was spent fishing and berry picking on Vancouver Island. She secretly preferred keeping her feet on dry land berry picking or gathering driftwood with her granddaughter Cassidy. If fishing was slow, she would crack the whip getting us out of bed and on the water early.

Dorothy enjoyed travelling. Upon graduation from nursing, she headed off to tour Europe with her good friend June. Dorothy and Russ enjoyed several trips overseas to Europe and Asia. There were also many, many family fishing adventures to the West Coast during the summers. In more recent years she enjoyed slipping away to Scottsdale in the winter to warm up and do a little shopping. She always enjoyed a good sale in Scottsdale with her friend Sylvia. However, no matter where she travelled to, she would always say there is no place like home!

Dorothy is survived by her children, Cathy (Dan), Jeff (Chyenne) and Jason; her niece Andrea and nephew James; her grandchildren Derek (Jamey), Morgan and Cassidy; her great-grandchildren Amelia and James. Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband and best friend Russell, her parents Michael and Mary, her brother Mervyn, and her daughter-in-law Jedidja.

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, a celebration of life gathering will be delayed until health restrictions ease. Additional details will be added to this obituary at a later date.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Dorothy’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Dorothy Nawolsky, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.