With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Dorothy Muriel Bidlake, on January 31, 2025, in her 97th year. She passed away peacefully at Extendicare Brampton, which had been her home for the past two months.

Dorothy was predeceased by husbands Kenneth Hollier (founder of the Oakville Symphony Orchestra in 1967) and Douglas Bidlake. She was a devoted mother to Christian (Patricia), Linda, and Wendy (Alan), a cherished grandmother to Shane, Matthew, Rebecca, Stacey (Justin), and Sarah(Josh), and a proud great-grandmother to Lacey, Damien, Devon, Brett, Kate, Tristan, Madelyn, and Carson.

Born and raised in England, Dorothy's early years were shaped by resilience—she survived a war and two pandemics. Upon graduating from Nursing College, she took her childcare training to South Africa, where she worked as a nanny for many years before returning to England. She later married Ken and made the move to Canada in 1954 to raise her own family.

With a passion for children, Dorothy ran Bo Peep Nursery School from their home in Oakville for several years. While she took on various roles throughout her life, she was above all a loving homemaker, a dedicated volunteer, and a proud supporter of the Oakville Symphony Orchestra. In her later years, she found joy performing with the Oakville Happy Tappers, even taking the stage at Roy Thomson Hall.

Dorothy had a deep love for gardening, animals, and travel. She enjoyed many trips back to the UK, visited Canada's east and west coasts, and took road trips into the United States. She loved cruising, making her first transatlantic voyage in 1963 on the SS France from Southampton.  She later cruised Alaska with Wendy and Linda and Bermuda with Linda under Denure Tours. She also enjoyed a good Scotch, a Margarita, or glass of wine on many occasions.

Dorothy had a special place in her heart for animals, but none more so than Amber, her faithful feline companion for the past 15 years.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Extendicare Brampton for their exceptional care and compassion in her final months, as well as to the team at Amica Peel Village, where she lived from 2020 to 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

A private service will be held to celebrate her life. She will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts.