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Dorothy retires after lengthy legal career |
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008 |
Dorothy Wilkinson has a natural ability to make people feel at ease - that's part of the reason she was successful working as a legal secretary for over 25 years.
By Jennifer Elves
Taber Times
Her neighbour of 25 years Gloria Ilczynski says being in a meet and greet position as a legal secretary was a good fit for Wilkinson since she is so easy going.
"She's easy-going, and she'll help anybody and do anything for anybody without batting an eyelash or asking for a favour back - that's just in her not to do that," says Ilczynski.
Wilkinson, who grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, worked for North & Company LLP for almost 10 years up until retiring recently. She went to high school in Swift Current, Sask and then took typing and shorthand in Swift Current after high school. In Swift Current, she also worked at a bank for a couple of years and as a secretary for an oilfield service company.
Wilkinson got married to her late husband, Dwight, when she was 25 in 1962, and spent some of her days as a house-wife, caring for their children Heather, Kerilee and Greg. During her time as a housewife they moved to Medicine Hat and lived there for a few years.
Today, she has six grandsons, who reside in Taber, Coaldale and Lethbridge.
When they first moved to Taber, Wilkinson did secretarial work until 1988 for Dwight, who had his own law practice in town.
"Dwight taught me a lot of the real-estate. We would sit down together and he'd tell me, 'this is how you fill out the documents,' " says Wilkinson.
Along with working for her husband and working for North & Company LLP, during her time in Taber she worked for Dodic, Toone, Maclean, (when the lawyers out of Lethbridge had an office in Taber) and for Roy Hirch.
She says after spending so many years with the lawyers at North & Company they became like family to her.
Now that she is retired, Wilkinson plans to clean the inside of her house in the winter so she can devote her time to her yard come spring.
"I'm glad she is retired. Now she's got all the time in the world to work on her yard," says Ilczynski. "Knowing her she will be out there from the wee hours of the morning until it is dark."
Some of her other main interests include cooking, baking and canning. Last Christmas she spent lots of time cooking and provided tons of food for her family.
"My son said to me, 'is this totally necessary?' and I said, 'never mind, we're having Christmas."
In addition to spending time on her hobbies, she is also a member of the 67 Unit of the UCW at the United Church in Taber.
"She just participates and does what we ask of her. She helps out with whatever we ask her to help out with," said Jo-Ann Hay, a member of the group, who added when Wilkinson is around there is always a lot of laughs. "She is a lot of fun." |
