Obituary of Dorothy Viola Wiebe

The family of Dorothy Viola Wiebe (nee Merkley) is deeply saddened to announce the passing, at home, of their beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother on Oct 9^th, 2018. Dorothy was born on May 3^rd, 1920, in Haddo, Ontario, a descendent of United Empire Loyalists. Dorothy was the loving and beloved wife of the late Abram Wiebe (1995) for 49 years; cherished and devoted Mother of Peggy Brock (Fletcher Mann Jr) (Greenville, South Carolina), Patsy (Harry Milburn) (Kitchener), Carson Wiebe (Carol), Craig Wiebe, Sheila Wiebe all of Waterloo and Margot (Stewart Winter) (Seattle, Washington). Dorothy is lovingly remembered by her Grandchildren: Taylor (Vassily Salytchev), Matthew Milburn (both of Cambridge), Erin (Matthew Gardiner) (Calgary), Kaitlin Winter (Montreal), Brenna Winter (Ottawa), and Owen Milburn (Stefan Naccarato) (Toronto); and her Great-Grandchildren: Alexander, Zahar and Mikhail Salytchev. Dorothy was survived by her devoted dachshund, Freddy (16 years old). Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, Grace and Stanley Merkley and her sisters-in-law Anne Wiebe, Louise Wiebe and Helen (Peter Rempel).

Dorothy graduated from Kingston General Hospital in 1944 as a registered nurse. She married the love of her life, Abram, in 1946. After raising six children, at the age of 44, Dorothy started her own construction company, Vintage Homes Ltd in 1963, at a time when women rarely ran a business, let alone a construction company. She built homes in Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge that were unequalled at the time in variety, design, and quality. She eventually turned to building commercial buildings. Dorothy and Abram’s passions were family life, travelling, and gardening together, as well as working in the development and building businesses. They loved to take time off to relax at their cottage, Woryco, on Somerset Island, Georgian Bay, and their condo in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dorothy lived 53 years in the home she built with Abram. 

As a family, we thank Sheila for her dedication, hard work and loving care of Dorothy, her mother. Our sincere gratitude to the family physician Dr. Mel Cescon for his special care for many years. We thank Josephine for her friendship and weekly visits. To Claudia, Dorothy’s dear friend, we thank you for your incredible care. We thank all the women from Warm Embrace, the CCAC, Paramed, and CBI for aiding Dorothy in remaining in the home she truly loved.

Visitation will be held at Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo on Thursday, October 11, 2018 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm.  The funeral service will be held in the chapel of the funeral home on Friday, October 12 at 1:00 pm followed by a reception in the Fireside Reception Room. Interment at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener.

Donations to the Dorothy V. and Abram Wiebe Scholarship Fund, Faculty of Music, Wilfrid Laurier University or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy and can be arranged by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or by calling 519.745.8445.