Dorothy Foster (nee Kropp) passed away on December 15, 2024. She was 82 years of age. She was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Olga Kropp, her brother Raymond Kropp, and her cousins John Kropp and Bernadette Gray. She is survived by her son Sean Foster and his wife Theresa, as well as her cousin Laura Gyori, her niece Dianne Tutill, and many wonderful friends and neighbours too numerous to list.

Dorothy grew up in Winnipeg and spent her summers at West Hawk Lake in Manitoba, until 2019, when the cottage was sold. During her childhood, she was called Dodie; and still is by her family and oldest friends. She enjoyed a rich background of Eastern European culture provided by her family and their friends. Although she was exposed to the culture, she only learned a few words in Polish, but it was then that she was introduced to the love of singing. Dorothy took voice lessons and was in a madrigal choir. She also took second place for mezzo-soprano in the Winnipeg Music Festival in the mid-1950s.

She was introduced to the arts by a Canadian sculptor, Leo Mol, (and his wife Margareth) shortly after they arrived in Canada from Ukraine. They had a great impact on Dorothy’s life development. Leo, having long since passed away, gifted Winnipeg with a beautiful sculpture garden in Assiniboine Park.

Dorothy went to the University of Manitoba's School of Architecture and Interior Design. She married, and after 6 years was divorced; but from that union she had a wonderful son to take care of.

Although she loved the arts, her talents and interests were in business. She started out in retail at the Art Shoppe, and then Holt Renfrew; where in a short time she became manager of the first floor. She was encouraged to sell media, and was hired by Toronto Calendar Magazine. She proved to be very successful in sales and helped to develop a restaurant guide. She was then sent to Vancouver to manage Vancouver Calendar Magazine, and then became the National Sales Manager of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal Calendar Magazines.

After nine years with Calendar Magazines, she worked for a variety of Publications with Southam and Western City Publications as National Sales Manager. Her last position as National Sales Manager was at Simplified Communications Group, where she was able to utilize some of her former contacts in the USA, when she managed a Southam business magazine.

When she retired, she joined Kingsway-Lambton United Church, and was invited to be Chairman of Communications, as well as a member and eventually Chair of the Outreach Committee. The Church became the centre of her life for 23 years, where she met a wonderful group of people and grew in body, mind and spirit. Her life was blessed, and for that she was very grateful. For the past three years she was Coordinator of the Kingsway-Lambton Charity Art Show & Sale.

In her later years, her son Sean and his wife moved back to Toronto after living out West for 32 years. Sean saw her every day when she was ill, and walked her dog, did chores around the house, took her to medical appointments, and kept her company. He was not only her son, he was a blessing.

Dorothy loved travelling the world, nature, animals, art, music, reading, and relaxing at the cottage; but most of all, she enjoyed the company of family and friends.

She will be greatly missed.


In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Dorothy Ley Hospice or a charity of your choice. Thank you.