It is with great sadness and heavy hearts; we announce the passing of
our beloved Dorothea Ellen Bulford on March 16, 2025, at the age of 77
years.Dorothea was born on October 3, 1947, to Harriet and Gordon Fitzsimmons. She was the youngest of three girls. As a child she attended and finished school in Wembley. Afterwards she went to work at the CIBC in Grande Prairie AB.
While walking home from work with a friend, Dorothea was introduced to Jim Bulford through the kindness of a ride home and from that chance meeting a romance was born. While dating, Dorothea decided to see what it was like to live in the big city and moved in with her oldest sister and husband in Edmonton. Jim, upon realizing that he dearly missed her, drove to Edmonton, proposed and the deal was sealed. They lived in Grande Prairie for almost four years when Jim decided to give farming a try - against Dorothea’s wishes. She gave him three years and said if I don’t like it, we will move back to Grande Prairie.
Their first daughter, Teresa was born a year after they started farming. When the 3-year mark hit, Dorothea made a list of the pros and cons and decided that this was definitely the way of life for her. Two years after that their second daughter, Heather was born.
Dorothea had a strong faith in God and became involved in the Bezanson Community Church. She was admired for her kindness and generosity. Dorothea and Jim were avid square dancers with the Bezanson Wheelers. For a time, Dorothea wrote a column in the Daily Herald Tribune in which she reported on the community events for Bezanson. She also volunteered on the board for the Community Crime Watch Association.
In the later years, Dorothea found joy in joining Jim on his long-haul trucking adventures. They also enjoyed travelling down to Osoyoos various times as well as once across Canada with her older sister and brother in-law.
And then the grandchildren came. Mikayla, Teron, Carter and Hunter were her whole world. She was then busy attending all the hockey, curling, motocross, football, volleyball, piano and violin recitals her schedule could handle.
Dorothea is survived by her loving husband, Jim, her children Teresa (Aaron) Anderson, Heather (Clayton) Furgeson, grandchildren Mikayla Anderson (Shawn), Teron Anderson (Sierra), Carter Furgeson and Hunter Furgeson and her sister Elenor Wood. She is also survived by her in-laws, who she loved like her own family. As well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; who were so dear to her heart.
Dorothea was predeceased by her father and mother, Gordon and Harriet Fitzsimmons, sister Gertrude Thomson, brother-in-law, Jim Wood, mother and father-in-law, Elmer and Ann Bulford, nephew Andrew, nephew Norman, great-nephew Nylan, and infant nephew Stephen.
We want to extend our heartfelt thank you to all the paramedics, ER, palliative care, first and second floor nurses of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. She was Fiercely loved by her Family and her impact will live on through her generosity for generations to come.
A service for Dorothea will be held on Thursday, March 27th at 2pm at the Bezanson Community Church (Grande Prairie County No. 1, AB T0H 0G0). Luncheon to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask you to please donate in Dorothea’s name to the Northwestern Alberta Foundation. Clipped from Oliver's Funeral Home & Crematorium
