Dorothy H. Christie-Killin
1927-2017
Dorothy H. Christie-Killin
Dorothy Helen Killin (November 21, 1927 – January 1, 2017)
Dorothy Killin (née Christie) was born on the west side of Toronto, the youngest of six children. Some of her earliest childhood memories were summers at the beloved family cottage. From an early age, she felt a calling toward teaching as a future career.
At Vaughan Road Collegiate, Dorothy served as the Simpsons “rep” and participated in the Santa Claus Parade. She subsequently enrolled at Toronto Normal School, received a teaching certificate and achieved her most important career goal. However, her teaching career was soon interrupted. In those days, female teachers were obliged to resign when they got married; so when Dorothy married Donald Killin (son of Archibald Killin and Jean Killin, née Dunlop) in June 1951 she became a homemaker. She also contracted polio in the very early days of her marriage, but made a full recovery. “Doe” and “Don,” as they were known, bought a property on the west edge of the Toronto suburbs and built their own house with help from family and friends. First child Kathy arrived in 1954, followed by Charlie (1956), Sandra (1961-2019), and Greg (1963).
Dorothy raised her family, managed the household, and maintained close contact with two large extended families. In the early 1970s, Dorothy decided to return to teaching – a bold choice for a woman at the time. She thoroughly enjoyed the second turn at her career for almost 20 years, when she retired around the age of 60. Her long retirement was busy with charitable and church work, art, travel, cottage and grandchildren.
After living in their beloved home on Warwood Road for over six decades, Dorothy and Don moved on to a retirement residence in Kingston. Within three years, at the age of 89, Dorothy passed away unexpectedly in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2017. She had been married to Don for over 66 years.
Dorothy Helen Killin (November 21, 1927 – January 1, 2017)
Dorothy Killin (née Christie) was born on the west side of Toronto, the youngest of six children. Some of her earliest childhood memories were summers at the beloved family cottage. From an early age, she felt a calling toward teaching as a future career.
At Vaughan Road Collegiate, Dorothy served as the Simpsons “rep” and participated in the Santa Claus Parade. She subsequently enrolled at Toronto Normal School, received a teaching certificate and achieved her most important career goal. However, her teaching career was soon interrupted. In those days, female teachers were obliged to resign when they got married; so when Dorothy married Donald Killin (son of Archibald Killin and Jean Killin, née Dunlop) in June 1951 she became a homemaker. She also contracted polio in the very early days of her marriage, but made a full recovery. “Doe” and “Don,” as they were known, bought a property on the west edge of the Toronto suburbs and built their own house with help from family and friends. First child Kathy arrived in 1954, followed by Charlie (1956), Sandra (1961-2019), and Greg (1963).
Dorothy raised her family, managed the household, and maintained close contact with two large extended families. In the early 1970s, Dorothy decided to return to teaching – a bold choice for a woman at the time. She thoroughly enjoyed the second turn at her career for almost 20 years, when she retired around the age of 60. Her long retirement was busy with charitable and church work, art, travel, cottage and grandchildren.
After living in their beloved home on Warwood Road for over six decades, Dorothy and Don moved on to a retirement residence in Kingston. Within three years, at the age of 89, Dorothy passed away unexpectedly in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2017. She had been married to Don for over 66 years.
