10-Feb-1949 - 08-Oct-2022
Susan May Otis passed away peacefully in the early morning of Saturday October 8th with both of her children holding her hands, at her home in Brampton Ontario at the age of 73.
Beloved mother of Paul Otis and Catharine Quinn, cherished wife of John Dowdell (deceased), predeceased by her first husband Robert Otis, loving sister of Judy Taylor, Linda Illingworth, Edward Taylor and Beth Wiggins, and thoughtful grandmother to Tristian Otis, Lilith Otis, Penelope Otis, and Charlotte Quinn.
Susan was born in Toronto Ontario and although she lived in many places, she would forever consider Newmarket her home. First born, she was a close companion to her mother Marjorie Taylor being a constant helper. She had a close relationship with her maternal grandparents having lived with them when she was quite young and again when she was a teenager.
Susan married Robert Otis in 1969 and together they raised two children. They enjoyed traveling, camping in the Rocky Mountains and dinners out with their exceptionally good friends Jim and Mary Parker. Although the marriage dissolved after many years, Susan and Robert remained good friends and Susan continued to love and respect the entire Otis family.
Susan married longtime friend John Dowdell in 2005, and he and his daughters Shelley, Elizabeth, and Catherine Dowdell, instantly became a loving part of our family. John’s incredible devotion and love towards our mother could never be overstated. In Susan’s own words in a letter written to her Aunt Dot, “My life from then on has been the most exciting, joyful, loving time imaginable.”
Susan’s most constant hobby was reading, but in her mid-forties, she was introduced to sailing and she became a welcome hand on her employer’s, Derek McGeachie’s 30ft sailboat.
A celebration of Susan’s life will be held on Friday, October 21st at Taylor Funeral Home, 524 Davis Drive, Newmarket Ontario, 905-898-2100. Visitation will be from 1-3pm. A time of remembrance will be from 3-4pm.