Tribute

On Saturday, January 13^th, Dorothy Anne Alexander passed away peacefully at Cowichan District Hospital.   She is predeceased by her parents Gordon and Jess Bell and brother John Geoffroy Bell.  Left to mourn are her husband Steen Carstensen, son Peter (Jacqueline) Carstensen, granddaughter Scarlett Carstensen, nephew Keith Bell and great nephew and niece Korey and Tia Bell.  She also leaves a large circle of friends in Cowichan Valley, particularly in Maple Bay, that are going to miss her signature tee-he-he laugh that she so often generously shared.

Dorothy was born Aug 4,1946 in Vancouver, BC.  She spent her youth in the idyllic Copper Cove area of West Vancouver.  She worked at a fish processing company in Prince Rupert as a summer student and when she graduated from UBC with her CPA they hired her immediately as their accountant.   A few years later she returned to Vancouver and was the only women working in the auditing department for Revenue Canada.   She demonstrated her mettle when one particular “suspect” tried to evade being served and ran out the back door and through his farm field with Dorothy in pursuit!   Dorothy had a strong work ethic, of course he was caught and served.   She later decided to go into business for herself and to the good fortune of her many clients maintained that business for the remainder of her life.

In 1991 she and her business partner purchased The Brigantine Inn and it did not take long for her to fall in love with the community (and Steen), discontinue the weekly commute from Vancouver and set new roots in Maple Bay.

Though we are deeply saddened by her sudden premature passing we are comforted with the knowledge that her 77 years were well lived.   For example, in her late forties she learned to ride a motorcycle and enjoyed bike trips in Canada and the US with Steen and friends.  She also enjoyed trips to Europe, Mexico, Cuba, Northern BC and Northern Vancouver Island.   Her last trip was with a girl friend to Haida Gwaii.   Other passions included her retreat at the family property on Lasqueti Island where she had a self-sustaining cabin built.    Dorothy was a prolific reader, and that cabin was her reading sanctuary.  She was Treasurer at Literacy Now Cowichan and the Maple Bay Yacht Club, President of the Vancouver Island Karting Association.  She also volunteered at the Maple Bay Rowing Club.   Dorothy was always busy and as she was going out the door Steen’s common salutation was drive safe and don’t volunteer for anything more!    She did drive safely.

Please join us in celebrating her life on Saturday, April 13, 2pm at the Maple Bay Yacht Club.   In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to either Literacy Now Cowichan https://www.literacynowcowichan.ca or the BC Cancer Foundation.  https://bccancerfoundation.com.