DOROTHY KAMARAUS (nee: PEPPER)

Our hearts are breaking as we announce the passing of Dorothy Eileen Kamaraus on Friday, Feb 17, 2017 following a two year battle with Bulbar Motor Neuron Disease, a form of ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  She was 61 years of age.  Dorothy was predeceased by husband, Robert (Bob) Kamaraus; parents, George & Theola Pepper; father-in-law, Kasmir Kamaraus, mother-in-law, Adeline Podruski and stepfather-in-law Mike Podruski.  She will be lovingly remembered by son James (Sarah Greaves) Kamaraus and grandchildren Skylar & William of Weyburn, SK;  by siblings:  Bev (Art) Perry of Saskatoon, SK; Lucy (Greg) Smith of Central Square, NY; Lance (Barb) Pepper of Leduc, AB; Mickey (Murray) Mattice of Regina, SK; Janet (Dave) Olson of Calgary, AB; and Velda (Grant) Varley of Regina, SK;  by sister-in-law:  Diane (Ken) Bialek of Beausejour, MB;  and by nieces and nephews: Angela, Matthew, Meghan, Wes, Stacey, Shara, Gerry, Blake, Shane, Leanne, Kevin, & Kerry…and their families, other relatives and special friends.

Dorothy was born October 28, 1955 and by all accounts had a happy childhood growing up in Weyburn.  She spoke fondly of good times spent at the family cottage each summer…built by her father when she was just one year old.  She also enjoyed Sunday drives, especially ones that ended with Dilly Bars at the Dairy Queen and the occasional road trip to visit with cousins and friends on the farm…always a treat for a city kid!  Dorothy and Bob Kamaraus met in the early 70’s while he was working in the Weyburn area and were married in 1975 in Bob’s hometown of Beausejour, MB.  

They remained there for some time before returning to Weyburn where Bob pursued a career in welding and Dorothy settled in as a stay-at-home Mom to son James. Their house had an ‘open door policy’, Jamie recalls of growing up, and his friends were always welcome.  Many of them even called her ‘Mom’, and have continued to do so until the present day.  Jamie summed up his relationship with his mother by saying “she was not only a great Mom, but also a good friend!”  Not everyone could pull that off!  Dorothy was well known for her perogies (mother-in-law’s recipe) and would make them by the hundreds only to see them disappear in a matter of days.  She wasn’t pointing any fingers, but was pretty sure their initials were Bob and Jamie…but she really didn’t seem to mind. Sadly, Bob was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in April 1982 and Dorothy dedicated the next 30 years to helping him as best she could as he struggled through the various stages of the disease…until his passing on Jan 15, 2012.  Dorothy was a hard worker with a good work ethic and had a variety of jobs in Weyburn over the years before joining the housekeeping staff at the ‘Perfect Inns & Suites’ in 2008.  She remained there until April 2016 when she was forced to leave due to failing health…it was a difficult time for her.  Dorothy loved her job and spoke very highly of the people she worked with at the motel and of the many friends she made while working there.  She caught the travel bug in Feb 2013 when, at their invitation, Dorothy joined Jamie and Sarah in Costa Rica for the birth of her first grandchild, Skylar.  She enjoyed it so much she returned the next year to celebrate Skylar’s first birthday…and, yet again in June 2015 for the birth of her second grandchild, William.  By this time, she was indeed a seasoned traveller.  Family was always a big part of Dorothy’s life and when her mother passed away in 2000 she took on the challenge of hosting the ‘Pepper Family’ Christmas every year and 2016 was no exception.  She was determined that Christmas would go on as usual…and it did! Total head count this year was 23.  Dorothy enjoyed crossword and jigsaw puzzles, word search and Yahtzee; she had a green thumb and loved gardening…be it flowers, vegetables or shrubs, she knew her stuff; and like everyone else, she was an avid Rider fan who rarely missed a game on TV; she loved hummingbirds and had quite a collection…you were never stuck for a gift with Dorothy, a hummingbird would do just fine!  She was a fun person and had a great sense of humor; she loved children and they loved her back.  She was all these things and we loved her very much.  We will miss her…but we will let her go.  In honouring Dorothy’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family interment will be held at a later date.  For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Dorothy may be made to a charity of choice. 

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