Obituary of Dorothy Evenson

Dorothy Evenson May 21, 1921 - Nov 18, 2014 It is with loving memories but sad hearts that the family of Dorothy May Evenson (nee Sewell) announce her passing. Dorothy was born and educated in Winnipeg - the only daughter of Edward Sewell and Gertrude (Armstrong) Sewell. Her only sibling, Edward, passed away in 1980, aged 60. In 1949, Dorothy married her beloved Lloyd Evenson, DFC - a former RCAF bomber pilot in whose crew her brother served as bombardier - and settled in Toronto. Lloyd passed away in 2009 after 60 wonderful years of marriage. Dorothy and Lloyd were the proud parents of four children - Jeff (Dot -deceased), Richard (Janice), Jane (Calvin Robb) in Calgary, and Peter (Brigitte Sachse) as well as eleven grandchildren - Kira, Brett, Leigh, Drew, Rhys, Hayley, Jack, Harry, Leif, Finn and Cole. Dorothy spent the latter years of WWII in New York with the British Security Coordination under Sir Wm. Stephenson, made famous as "Intrepid." She was involved with the Enigma decoding machine that intercepted messages from enemy command. Her family knew nothing of this and her other assignments until much later as she had been sworn to secrecy for fifty years. Her war time experience, and those of many of her long-time 'New York' friends, was explored in the documentary "Secret Secretaries: The Women of British Security Coordination." Dorothy was a Life Member of York Chapter of the IODE, a volunteer for 40 years at North York General Hospital, served as coordinator of the Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil Campaign in Toronto and was a long-time member of the United Church Women, Unit 20 at Eglinton St. George's United Church. Fiercely independent, Dorothy lived on her own well into her 94th year and died peacefully in her sleep. Mom will be remembered as a loving mother, the strength of our family and as a loyal and great friend to those in her life. A celebration of Mom's life will be held at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) on Saturday, December 13 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A private interment will take place at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made in Dorothy's memory to the Scott Mission of Toronto. No flowers please.