Obituary of Dorothy Emma Moore

MOORE, Dr. Dorothy Emma- 97 of Halifax, our beloved mother passed away peacefully at home on April 26, 2024.

Dorothy was born in New York, where her parents had moved from  
England to make a better life for their young family.  They returned  
to Liverpool, England, when she was six, as the Depression in the US  
made life very difficult.  It was not much easier back in England.   
Despite this difficult start, and growing up during WWII, she showed  
intellectual talent early.  She was able to attend grammar school on a  
scholarship.

Dorothy married her first husband, Derek Healey, and as an office  
worker supported him through his university education.  She then  
trained as a social worker.

In 1959, Dorothy brought her young daughter to Halifax, since there  
was a shortage of trained social workers in Nova Scotia.  A few years  
later, she relocated to Antigonish, uniting with lifelong friends, the  
Keating and Murphy families.  She started work at the Antigonish  
Mental Health Clinic, but after several years realized that people who  
suffered from poverty and chronic unemployment needed something more than  
the traditional social work approach.

Her second husband, Robert Moore, died in 1965, having never recovered  
from his WWII experiences as a young bomber pilot.

Dorothy enrolled as a mature student at Dalhousie, completing a BA and  
MA in sociology in a couple of years, also obtaining her PhD in Sociology from Boston University, and began a long career as a  
Professor at the Maritime School of Social Work.  This allowed her to  
focus on her deeply held values with respect to human rights and  
social justice.  She taught the course, Social History of the Atlantic  
Provinces, for many years. She also worked as an ally with local  
pioneers in anti-racist education and affirmative action.  She  
treasured her relationships with many members of the African Nova  
Scotian, Indigenous, and Acadian communities.  She was thrilled to see  
the changes in these communities over the years but realized that  
there was more progress needed to achieve a fair and just society.

Dorothy was a long-time supporter of the New Democratic Party and  
a consistent contributor to many charities.  She was recruited to the  
National Board of Schools of Social Work and assisted with distance  
education programs for social workers.

In her retirement, Dorothy loved to travel and host social  
gatherings, as well as being a literacy tutor.  She was a member of  
the Welsh Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, and the Cambridge Society.   
She also enjoyed her extensive music and book collection.

In the past two years,  Dorothy was lovingly cared for at home by her  
wonderful caregivers, in particular Dr.K Stringer,  who made it possible for  
Dorothy is to remain at home until the end.

She is survived by her daughter, Cathryn (Robert MacLelland), and  
relatives in England.

Arrangements and cremation have been entrusted to J. Albert Walker Funeral Home, Halifax.  In accordance with her wishes, there will be no visitation.  A celebration of life will be held in England at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dorothy's favorite charities such as Doctors without Boarders, Feed Nova Scotia, or one's choice.

To place online condolences, please visit the tribute page.