Dorothy Burton
Dorothy Ethel Marion Burton
April 27, 1934 - June 20, 2026
A joint memorial service to be held for Dorothy and Gordon at McDougall United Church on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.
For those who cannot make the service in person, it will be live streamed and available on our YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/@mcdougallunitedchurchcalga4407
Obituary
Dorothy Burton, beloved wife of Gordon Burton, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the age of 92 years, just having celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together.
Dorothy was born in Cherry Hill, PEI, on April 27, 1934, to Harold and Alice Coffin, the second of six children. Early life was a happy time; she and her sister Millie were inseparable. As more siblings were born, the joy and love increased. Life on the farm was challenging but always full of joy, music, and fun. A special memory from her childhood was standing in the middle of a field of daisies, full of awe and feeling joyful, watching the sea of white sway around her. She always loved daisy fields.
When Dorothy was seven years old, she was in hospital recovering from surgery, where she had a primary care nurse who took care of her. She cheered Dorothy up with laughter and helped her feel safe. This was where her dream of becoming a nurse came from – to care for others in their time of need and to be kind.
Dorothy attended Cherry Hill school in a one-room school of sixteen children ranging from the First Grade to the Tenth. She then moved to Charlottetown to complete her Grade Eleven year at the Prince of Wales College. Deciding not to complete Grade Twelve, she chose to complete a year of normal (teacher training) school as she was too young to apply for nursing. Upon graduation, she was hired to teach at the Head of Hillsborough school, a class with lots of familiar faces – her younger siblings and cousins. After three years she was ready to study nursing, so she returned to Charlottetown, PE, to complete her Grade Twelve year and enrolled in the nursing course at the Prince Edward Island Hospital. This group of eighteen young ladies lived in residences close to the hospital and bonded very closely during their time, over split shifts, night shifts, and challenges of working plus going to school at the same time. Dorothy was the oldest member of her class and found the studying relatively easy compared to teaching school! This group of women remained close over the years and had several reunions and kept in touch.
Dorothy worked at Riverside Hospital in Charlottetown, PE, initially, and, with her experience and maturity, was given the role of supervisor of the unit that housed chronically ill female patients. She and her roommate had decided to look for work out west – but when her friend chose to get married instead, Dorothy opted to hitch a ride with her sister Millie and husband Don on their return trip to Calgary, AB.
She was hired at the Calgary General Hospital in the pediatric unit. She found a place with a colleague, and they spent their time off attending young peoples’ groups and the YMCA dances. It was here that Dorothy met her future husband, Gordon. Clearly, they hit it off as they were married just a few years later in 1961. Once their children started arriving, she stayed home to take care of them. In the early 1980’s Dorothy returned to nursing at Fanning Centre and then Glenmore Auxiliary. Later, she operated her own business, “Comfort Clothes to You,” and drove around southern Alberta selling clothing for seniors for eight years.
The church was always an important part of Dorothy’s life, and she was always very involved in the church community. Over the years she was in church choirs, Sunday School Chair, Healing Touch group, Bible Study groups, and participated in hospital visitations.
Dorothy enjoyed reading, singing in the choir, painting with watercolors, visiting with family and friends. Cooking and baking were part of her identity and her family treasures the memories of the times we enjoyed them together. Family was most important to her, and she eagerly anticipated the arrival of grandchildren.
Her final years were challenging ones as her struggle with dementia progressed and she could no longer speak. However, even with that, her personality continued to shine through her giggles, funny faces, and carefully cuddling her dolls.
Dorothy was survived by her cherished husband, Gordon, for a brief period of seven days. She is survived her sons, Mitchell (Michelle) of Coquitlam, BC, and Andrew of Steveston, BC; her daughter Holly Burton (Bob Boychuk) of Calgary, AB; her grandchildren, Christopher, Michael, Alexandra, and Tessa; and her great-grandchildren, Adelaide and Hugo. She is also survived by her sister, Eleanor Birt; her brother Edgar Coffin (Penny); sister-in-law, Trinkie Coffin; brother-in-law, Ronnie Giggey, all of PEI, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, Harold and Alice Coffin; her infant sister, Evelyn Coffin; her sisters, Edith Giggey and Millie Campbell; as well as her brother, Garth Coffin.
Dorothy’s family would like to thank the staff of the Providence Care Centre Boxwood unit for their wonderful care of our mother.
In the words of Dorothy: “To my husband, children, grandchildren, siblings and friends, thank you for the love and joy we have shared. I have had a good life.”
