Obituary of Alva Isabelle Callaghan Dolan

Callaghan Dolan, Alva Isabelle It is with heavy hearts that we share mom’s peaceful passing while at her home on Monday, July 17, 2023 at the age of 88. Loved and adored by many, mom will be greatly missed by her four children, Jackie Callaghan-Wilkinson, Teresa [Peter] Novosky, Patti Callaghan-Harrigan, and Steven [Jacquie] Callaghan, her 12 grandchildren, Jeffrey [pre-deceased], Julie, Jaymee-Anne, Becky, Jen, Alex, Sage, Colton, Nicholas, Jason, Christina, and Shelby, all of whom she was extremely proud, her 18 great grandchildren known to her as GG and her younger sister, Muriel [Joe] Georgas and older brother John (Mary) Dix (predeceased). Mom will be lovingly remembered as a caring aunt to many nieces and nephews, and held a special place in her heart for Petra Klacer and Jack Callaghan. Mom was born to Olive and Walter Dix in Woodbridge, Ontario on May 29, 1935. She then moved in her early teens to Beaverton, Brechin and then married the love of her life Jack, in 1952 settling in Atherley, ON in the house that they built together. Due to unforeseen circumstances, mom raised us on her own, and in doing so displayed strength and determination that one would have expected of two parents not a single mom. She supported her family by working in the early years at many odd jobs, such as ironing clothes and selling Avon. Once her children “flew the coop” mom worked as a shelf stocker at Canadian Tire, and lastly at Carlton Cards where she worked as a representative until retiring. Mom was never one to sit, so immediately after retirement she started volunteering first at the Orillia District Literacy Council, and then at the Orillia Royal Canadian Legion as a banquet server in honour of her father, Walter, who passed away serving as a World War II Veteran. Mom later, volunteered at the Geneva as a bingo runner. Years later, she acquired the thrill to play instead of volunteer and soon it became her passion playing there and then following the game to the Royal Canadian Legion until her health declined being no longer capable to attend. However, as a devoted bingo player, she began to regularly play TV bingo with many loved ones joining in on her fun. GG, as she was affectionately known to many, loved to read novels, conquer crossword puzzles, play board games, and always kept in close contact with her grandchildren via texting-mom was very tech savy! Also, everyone who knew her knew better than to interrupt mom when she was watching her two favourite TV shows, “The Young and the Restless” and “Coronation Street”. Heaven help you if you came to visit at this time. She would politely turn the volume down but, her eyes were always back to the TV trying to stay in tune with the storyline! We want to express our sincere gratitude for mom’s care and compassion that Dr. El Gwaidy, along with Carol (retired) and her staff gave her. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at the Simcoe Funeral Home, 38 James St. E., Orillia, ON from 1 PM to 3 PM. For many years now mom has donated monthly to the Toronto SickKids Foundation. Lieu of flowers, we know mom would be grateful for donations towards this charity (https://sickkidsfoundation.com)