Obituary of Dorothy Florence Gillis

Dorothy Gillis, (85)

It is always difficult to say goodbye, especially to the heart of a family. On December 4^th, 2022, we lost our beloved mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend Dorothy Florence Gillis (Swan). She was the daughter of the late Wilfred Swan and Gertrude Swan (Marriott). She is predeceased by her husband Gordon Vincent Gillis and her two sisters Lillian (Blackmore) and Sharon (Swan).

Dorothy was born February 21st, 1937 and was a graduate of Nova Scotia College Art and Design and an accomplished florist. She started off in the Simpsons credit office and eventually opened her own flower shop in Sears. She was also the manager of the Superstore Flower shop in Spryfield and Joe Howe. She grew up in Kline Heights and was very proud to state where she was from if the occasion called for it. She went by several nicknames to those who knew her, some of these included “Diamond Dot”, “Dottie” and “Tootie”. She loved being surrounded by her family on Saturday nights sitting at the kitchen table and talking about the gossip going on in the Heights. Christmas was a very special time of year for Dorothy and she was known to start her Christmas shopping on Boxing Day for the next year. She always loved to “run errands”, whether it be going to her favorite shops, Walmart, Sobeys or the Dollar store, if there was an excuse to get out and be about the town you could always count on Dorothy to be there.

Dorothy is survived by her five children: Tana (Paul) McKenna, Scott, Melody, Thane (Susan) and Kyla (Edward). Her grandchildren: Trista (Michael), T’Keyah, Tiyana, Lindsay, (Patrick) Lariah, Lataya, Lavanna, Lavante, Kyle and Kaneesha. Her great-grandchildren: Cullen, Cooper, Ni’yairah, Naliyah, Chance Annysa, Olivia, as well many nieces and nephews.

The visitation and funeral service will be held at the J. Albert Walker Funeral Home at 149 Herring Cove Road. Visitation will take place on Thursday December 8^th, 2022, from 6:00-8:00pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday December 9^th at 1:00pm. The burial ceremony will be held on Saturday December 10^th at 11:00am at St. John’s Cemetery Bedford Hwy. All are welcome to attend and pay your respects to Dorothy’s family.

Donations in memory of Dorothy can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. If you would like to send flowers, please send Dorothy’s favorites orchids or roses to the J. Albert Walker Funeral Home.