Dot was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba on January 25th, 1931 to George and Ethel Allanson.
While living in Portage, many people will remember Dot when she worked at Beese Grocery in the east end, ran Dot’s Snack Bar at the north end of Tupper Street, and worked with Meals on Wheels in the Herman Prior Centre. At one time or another, she also sold jewelry, Regal, Tupperware, Wigs and Weekender clothing. She was also quite the bowler in her younger years and had been a Big Sister.
Her mind was sharp as a tack. She loved challenges and was not afraid to tackle new projects whether they were crafts, cooking/baking, learning to play drums and piano and new technology using her laptop, iPad, tablet and cell phones. She could “Google” with the best and did online jigsaw puzzles, bowling and crib games, and read books online from the MacGregor Library, created greeting cards and calendars on the laptop. You never knew when you would get an email or facetime call from her. Her latest interest was coloring and she was looking forward to using her new, red “Cellphone for Seniors” once it had been set up.
Music has always been a part of her life, whether it be dancing, singing or playing. Friends will remember impromptu music gatherings. Starting in 2005 at age 74, she took piano lessons for 8 years with Connie Bryce and played solos and duets in a few of the year end recitals. Boy, were we proud of her! Some of the piano students may remember their lessons in Dot and Art’s home and the many pairs of slippers that she knit for the students to wear during these lessons.
Pets were also much loved, ranging from canaries, finches, a turtle named Freddy, many dogs and cats with the last being their cat Missy.
While maintaining a home in Austin, she and Art also lived at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum for 15 years where they put in over 130,000 volunteer hours doing, as Art puts it “everything from soup to nuts”. Dot volunteered in the office, worked with the “Hands on Tours” showing school kids how butter was churned and biscuits made in days gone by, and participated in the various Thresherman’s Reunion events wearing her finery.
Dot was predeceased by her first husband of 34 years, Kenneth John (Bill) McLennan, parents George and Ethel Allanson, siblings Al, Gerry and Maggie, nephew Randy Allanson and other close relatives.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 28 years, Art Devrieze, step-daughters, Jo-Anne (Warren) and Darlene and their families as well as Dot’s sister’s and brothers’ children and grandchildren with whom she stayed in close contact through the years, and many long-time dear friends.
She will especially be remembered by Jacki (Raymond) White of Medicine Hat AB, Perry (Diane) Allanson of Portage, Richard (Lynda) Allanson of Mission BC, Brian (Linda) Allanson of Portage, Shelly (Sheldon dec.) Prawdzik of Coalhurst, Glenda (Al) Collins of Portage and Tammy (Reg) Hordeski of Winnipeg and their children and grandchildren who called her Grandma Dot or Nana.
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