My Aunt Pauline McMillan-Dovey was born in Burlington, lived her life in Burlington, and never had an inclination to live anywhere else.  She simply always loved living here.

She dedicated her life to a few important pursuits:  her family, her career, the community, and her home.   Pauline had an extremely successful career at Sears Canada, working her way up from various positions in Hamilton to an executive position in finance at head office in Toronto.  She mentored many women along the way, even those many years her elder.  She was always wise beyond her years.  She retired after a short 30+ year career, having never married, but choosing to live with her parents and eventually just her best friend, her mother. 

Later in life, Pauline met the man who would sweep her off her feet.  She married Jack Dovey and continued to care for her mother.  Our small family got a little bigger, but also much richer through Pauline’s marriage to Jack.  Pauline and Jack bought a lovely home, travelled extensively to Europe and the US, and generally loved just being together.  Jack adored Pauline, her amazing passion for life and all that is good within it.

Despite being born during the depression, Pauline has never had a bad thing to say about her childhood.  She only recalled brilliant times she had playing and skating and knocking around Burlington with her best pal Bev.  That is Pauline – glass half full.  Pauline was an accomplished sprinter in her day, and would often have to take over her brother’s newspaper route when he was sick.  Pauline adored her family and was proud of her family.  She was the caregiver for many over the years including her father, mother, dear cousin Lyn, her brother and most recently her dear husband Jack.

My lifetime if full of memories with Pauline:  Christmas dinners, Easter, Thanksgiving and Birthday celebrations, and many family dinners at our home and hers. I was at Pauline’s wedding and she was at mine.  She was at my children’s baptism services and at many a birthday party and recital.  We supported each other through family funerals and celebrated each milestone with cards and phone calls.  When we moved away, Pauline kept in touch with letters, cards, phone calls and even made the trip to visit us on the west coast.

My relationship with Pauline has always been one of great respect.  She was always kind, fun and generous.  Always loving a good story or a chat about politics.  I fondly remember playing cards when I would visit my Grandparents and Pauline on North Shore Blvd. during my early childhood.   Later, she became my wise counselor in all things to do with my family.   And as I grew older, I realized how much of a leader Pauline was – in her management jobs at Sears, in the church and in the community.  She was a dedicated volunteer, an elder in her church, a generous donor, and a benevolent philanthropist for local as well as international causes.

Most of all, Pauline was an incredible woman with a great zest for life – happy in the simple pleasures like her home, her garden and her cats.  But she was also keen to explore the world, particularly with her love Jack.  Pauline was extremely independent, an avid reader, an exemplary hostess and has always been extraordinarily considerate to me and to my children.

Pauline was a lady, a mentor for women, an example which I hold up in our family of someone who has lived life to its fullest, never asked much of others, but has always been willing to give of herself.

Pauline was the last her generation of my relatives.  She and I were born McMillans.  There are no more.  I am grateful for having such an incredible woman in my family.  I will miss her dearly.  Rest in peace dear Pauline.