In Memory of

Karin

Dorothy

Hogan

(Ostrum)

Obituary for Mrs. Karin Dorothy Hogan (Ostrum)

Hogan, Karin Dorothy (Ostrum)
June 23, 1933 – May 4, 2022

With deep sorrow, the family of Karin Dorothy Hogan announces her peaceful passing at St. Joseph Care Group hospice on May 4, 2022 with family at her side.

Our mother, who went by Dorothy, and was the eldest of two daughters born on June 23, 1933 to Emil and Tyne Ostrum in Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay). Mom’s childhood years were spent living in Port Arthur and Loon Lake, and always loved the views of both. She attended PACI high school where she excelled in class and was also a cheerleader. As a teen, she met our father, Albert (Ab) Hogan, at a dance at the Finlandia Club (above the Hoito) and they fell for each other after their first dance. They married in 1950 and started a remarkable life of raising a large family. They welcomed their 11 children into the world and enjoyed being there for them while they grew and started raising families of their own. The Hogan house, (whether on Rosslyn Rd, Syndicate Avenue or Norah St), was always a place where family and friends were welcome – for card games, friends sleepovers or large meals (every meal at our house was a large meal). We were always able to fit one more at the table. Lots of our friends referred to Dorothy as mom as well. Christmas dinners got to be so large that we had to rent a hall to hold them. Aside from primarily being devoted to her children, Mom was a voracious reader, loved doing word and number puzzles, sketches and listening to music from her era. While all the kids were at home, she got involved in the PTA and CWL clubs. When fewer were still at home, she began to work at H&R Block before settling into retired life with dad. A beautiful person inside and out, she was also very smart and we’re sure she could have been a champ at Jeopardy! She was a one of a kind mom, grandma and great grandma, the matriarch of the family. We love her and will all miss her dearly.

Dorothy is survived by her children Danny (Callie), Cheryl Sereda (Wayne), Wendy, Kelly, Janice, Richard, Michael (Marie), Maureen Lalonde (Paul), Tammy, and Shannon Owen (Bill Peyetta). She is also survived by her 23 grandchildren and their families of her 22 great grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister Ruth Hankinson, brother-in-law Robert Rooney and many nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada, Sweden and Finland.

Dorothy was predeceased 2013 by her husband of 62 years Albert, her son Sean, granddaughter Shannon, and her parents. Also predeceased by her in-laws; Agnes Rooney, Reginald and Marge Hogan, Alice Hogan and Dignan Hogan along with other nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank the absolute angels of nursing staff, floor staff and Dr. Feldstein and Dr. Migay that work at St. Joseph’s Care group on Four North in both the palliative and hospice wings. Your attention to ensuring compassion, dignity, respect, patience, and flexibility for our visits is truly amazing and will never be forgotten. We also wish to thank mom’s family doctor, Dr. Toppin for his excellent care over the past 30 years. Finally, while we all supported mom as much as we could, our eldest sister Cheryl was a primary caregiver to mom for many years and we are very thankful for all that she did.

Cremation has been entrusted to Simpler Times Cremation Centre, 575 Central Avenue, Thunder Bay. A formal service and mass will be arranged in the near future and will be announced separately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to some of Dorothy’s many favorite charities the Alzheimer’s Society, Parkinson’s Canada, St. Joseph’s foundation of Thunder Bay, or to any charity of your choice.

“I won’t be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call and I will come”