Dorothy Kay Keyzer

It is with heavy hearts and the deepest regret, that we announce the death of our beautiful Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Dorothy Kay Keyzer.

She was born in Manchester, England on the 28 June, 1929, the only child to William and Hilda Irlam. Like all people living at that time, she endured the horrors and tragedies of World War II. Living in one of the major industrial centres, they endured additional atrocities via the infamous V2 Rockets that terrorized England’s larger cities, such as London Manchester and Liverpool.

She was married in Manchester, England in 1952 to Les Critchley, also from Manchester. In 1955 their first son Michael Robert was born in the same city as his parents. The family of three emigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1957 where in 1958, their second son David William was born.

Although experiencing a very difficult childhood and first marriage, she married her soulmate Jack Keyzer in 1977. They lived in Johannesburg until 1989 thereafter emigrating to this beautiful country. They took up residence at the Victoria Regent Hotel, where they lived a privileged and happy life until 2011, when her husband and love of her life of 34 years, passed away. She lived alone at the Victoria Regent of her own desire and with stubborn resilience until 2024, before she succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 94, on January 28, with both her sons present, as she had wished.

She loved watching her children and grandchildren playing sports, with cricket and rugby occupying her interests in South Africa, followed by hockey, baseball and dance when she emigrated to Canada. She was called Granny by her seven wonderful grandchildren, and GiGi by her six beautiful great grandchildren, and from the day of their births, she offered them her heart, and established a warm, tender and loving relationship with them all. She travelled to, and was visited by her many family members in North Vancouver, Langley, Nanaimo and Tecumseh (Ontario), London, Liverpool and Manchester (England), along with the many friends and rotarians from around the world.

She was very active in serving Victoria’s community, and contributed her time and efforts to many causes she felt passionate about, including, but not limited to, The Downtown Mission, Meals on Wheels and many Rotary Ann charitable works, and donated regularly and frequently to charities near and far.

The most unique, kind, caring, generous, loyal and loving person we have ever known, she will be missed forever more, by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, in addition to the many friends who have touched her heart, all these years.

She is survived by her sons Michael (Meg) and David Critchley (Valerie); grandchildren Matthew (Vanessa), Andrew (Kaitlyn), Christopher, Michael, Katherine (Critchley), Tara Keyzer Butler (Jordan) and Dylan Keyzer; great grandchildren Scarlett, Sienna, Connor, Alice (Critchley), Ben and Max (Butler).

A celebration of life will be held at the Victoria Yacht Club, on Thursday, February 15, between 2 and 5 pm. Friends and family of Kay are welcome to attend.

The families of Kay are extremely grateful to the medical professionals who assisted our Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother all these years. Specifically but not limited to Cindy Cox, Dr. Doug Hartford, Dr. Jack Sturmwind, Dr. Han Phang, Dr. Christine Jones. The Victoria Hospice Society has had a profound impact on our families, and the nurses who visited my Mothers home, during this extremely difficult time, will remain forever in our hearts. With a special thank you to her care giver Jane Smith. They are our “Victorian Angels” and we are eternally grateful for everything that they have done. We love you all dearly.

Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.

When the rain is blowing in your face,

and the whole world is on your case, we will offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel our love”.

Bob Dylan.