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Dorothy Rutledge

Image by Nick Andréka

DOROTHY LOUISE RUTLEDGE

September 26, 1954 - November 30, 2023

It’s with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Dorothy Louise Rutledge, age 69, at her home November 30, 2023. 

 

She was predeceased by her parents, Edgar and Phyllis; as well as aunts and uncles, Fred and Rita Robertson, Kay and Doug Bradley, and Earl and Gwen Brooks. She will be greatly missed by her brother Bob (Gina); cousins, Sandra (Frank), Sophie (Gisele), and Donald, and several nieces and nephews. Also, mourning her loss are very special friends Charlotte and Neill and family Chris, Rob, Lauren (Jon), Godson Evan and his son Jacob.

 

Dorothy grew up in Winnipeg, attending University of Manitoba where she received her Bachelor of Science and Nursing. She went on to obtain a Master's degree in Nursing at Madison University and became a pediatric nurse practitioner. She continued with her studies and later received a Master's degree in Divinity and CAPE certification for counselling.

 

Her nursing duties took her to many northern communities including Churchill, Pelican Narrows, Dawson City, and Rankin Inlet. She was known to be caring and giving to clients especially Indigenous people and the elderly.  It was up north where she got her first rescue dog Asta who she would take on travels on the roads in her pickup while performing her practitioner duties. She went on over the years to adopt other dogs, Brandy, Skip, and recently Finn, who misses her very much.  Dorothy retired from her position with the WHRA in 2021 but assisted with contract tracing for COVID. 

 

Dorothy had many different interests including love of music and was able to play different instruments including the piano, harp, and bagpipes.  She enjoyed crafting, rug hooking, knitting, quilting, crocheting, and making jewelry. She would make doggie mats for the Humane Society.  She was active with her dogs ensuring they were properly trained and was enjoying working with Finn to learn sheep herding, barn hunting activities and flyball. One of Dorothy’s favorite places was at the Johnson’s cabin where she could walk and play with Finn on the beach.  

 

Those that knew her well found Dorothy had a generous heart and took care of family and friends especially at the most challenging times of their lives.  Christmas was a special time for her and one of her traditions was sharing her homemade fruit cake. 

 

May you rest in eternal peace Dorothy, you will always be loved and never forgotten.

 

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Humane Society or Spinal Cord research.

Dorothy's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

Memories, Stories and Condolences

 

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R

May 2, 2024 at 6:43 PM

This picture was taken in her early twenties.

Jodi Dusik Sharpe

January 4, 2024 at 5:26 PM

My condolences to Dorothy's family. I met Dorothy is 2011 at the After Hours Home care program. She patiently orientated me and was a support in the years to follow. I would often have a "Ask Dorothy" list that she took the time to answer and provide direction. She had an amazing nursing career. Rest in peace.

Gina McKees

December 22, 2023 at 10:49 PM

"I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path” (John 8:12 TLB)." Dorothy may the living light flood your path. You will sadly be missed.

Charlotte

December 22, 2023 at 12:59 AM

I meet Dot in Grade nine at St Mary's Academy . Here she is as a bridesmaid at my wedding. . Charlotte 

Bernice Rivers

December 21, 2023 at 5:48 PM

Dorothy and I met at a crochet class at Wolseley Wool in 2019 and were a regular part of each other's lives since. I always looked forward to seeing her every Tuesday. She was so passionate about crochet and knitting and was always full of ideas and keen to learn new things. She was happy to share her skills with others and kept us entertained with exciting stories from her nursing career and time up north. Her love of Finn was so obvious and she gave him the most wonderful and exciting life. We had been busy this year planning our craft sale booth and had so much fun together with that. I'm so grateful we were able to do one sale together just this past November. It was great to share a love of crochet and knitting together - we could go on and on about it for hours! She was such a vibrant and energetic person and she made retirement look like an absolute blast. Dorothy you are gone way too soon. Rest easy and know you are remembered and loved. My sincere condolences to all of her family and friends.

R.

December 18, 2023 at 5:50 PM

I first met Dorothy over 50 years ago through swimming when she was still in St. Mary's Academy.  Swimming continued to be a part of her life, as she worked as a guard, instructor and supervisor at the U of M pool while in university.  In the late 80's, she joined the MidCan Masters Swim Club for a few years. We had many good times together over a few years while she was in university.  Some of the moments we had were surprising, as when she seemed to have bulked up but was wearing a body cast to ease the pain of her scoliosis; sad, when she struggled to say over the phone that her doggie had died; funny, when she brought a thermos of hot chocolate to a Bomber game on a warm September afternoon; and mischievous, when she dumped water over the front of my bathing suit as I was sunbathing at the pool, telling me to cool down. After she returned from Churchill, life led us to a fork in the road.  In retrospect I see that her path was clear to her.  After a rough start, our separate paths smoothed out, but they could never cross. I still have memories of our times together and there has always been a place in my heart for Dorothy. Looking at Dorothy's life story I see an impressive set of academic credentials.  More importantly, I see an amazing life spent caring for others, while she made herself the best person she could be. We saw Harry Chapin in concert and if I may paraphrase him, Dorothy seems to have gotten what she asked for, such a long, long time ago. Dorothy, you were too young for your life path to end so soon. My deepest sympathies go out to Bob, Gina and their family for the loss of a sister and aunt, and to Charlotte, Neil, and their family, for the loss of a life-long friend.

Charlotte johnson

December 17, 2023 at 8:19 AM

I keep remembering the happy time  ,playing fetch on the beach with Fin.
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