Susan Doughty (née Pearson)

Susan Doughty (née Pearson) passed peacefully at Bethell Hospice, Caledon on Sunday, November 8th, 2026 at the age of 93. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 59 years John, her parents Barbara and Thomas and her brother Ian. She is survived by her brother Andrew, and her four children Sarah (Danny), Angus (Sian), Michael (Lesley), and Hamish (Gina); her six grandchildren Tavish, Kynyn, Erik, Zach, Samantha, and James; and her great grandson Ahfrè.

Born in 1933 into a British merchant family, Susan’s early years in Shanghai, China, were comfortable and happy. Later, following the Japanese occupation of China during WWII, her family spent difficult years in an internment camp. This experience profoundly influenced her life and the phrase, “when we were in camp”, was often heard when comparing her children’s complaints about food or fairness to the realities she faced as a child in the prison camp. Susan grew into someone who was resourceful, creative, compassionate and who valued family deeply, which she attributed to her war experience.

After the war, Susan travelled in a converted troop ship to England to attend school, spending six weeks vomiting into a bag while traversing previously mine-infested waters. She never developed a love for cruises, and from then on was happier in smaller, self-propelled craft. Susan graduated from St. Michael’s boarding school, then attended nursing school, training in London.

As a young nurse in Britain Susan became interested in ground-breaking neo-natal cardiac surgery. She applied and was hired by The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, a leader in that medical field at the time.

As a newcomer to Canada, she joined a youth hostel program where she met her future husband John on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park. They married on October 1st, 1960 and continued canoe tripping and camping in Algonquin Park throughout their lives, sharing their passion with their four children. Susan even sewed infant lifejackets herself as they were not yet commercially available. Her four children were lovingly raised beside the Humber River in Bolton, Ontario, in the house where she lived for nearly 60 years until she died.

Susan was a hard worker, and she taught herself many skills. She made the most of the home’s large yard by the Humber River and became an excellent gardener. Her vegetables helped feed a big family on a small budget and her flower beds were gorgeous. Despite being a busy mum she made time to pursue her interests in art, and found a true talent for wood engraving. Over the years Susan’s lovely prints were much anticipated by those who were lucky enough to receive one as the annual Christmas card.

Susan did things with pride, and gentleness, guided by an unwavering confidence, rather than want for recognition. When she saw a need she worked to fill it. She took in four young children who had lost their mother (bringing the household to 8 kids under 10 years old), and they became part of the Doughty family until their father could care for them again. Susan was very active in many roles at Christ Church Bolton. She was also active in the Bolton/Caledon community helping with the formation of the precursor to Caledon Community services, and Hospice Caledon (now Bethell Hospice).

Susan was always active, walking thousands of miles around town, paddling, as well as running and snowshoeing. She learned to skate alongside her children on the Humber River, so that she could shovel the ice for them to have a hockey rink. In her later years Susan kept busy tending to her gardens, knitting socks, doing the cryptic crossword, and being involved in the upbringing of her grandchildren, who know her as Grandma Susie. Over the years she became affectionately known as Grandma Susie to many others as well.

Susan was competent and capable, often in the background making things run smoothly. When John and Tavish lurched around the house making messes, Susan followed behind, quietly cleaning up. When the extended family arrived for dinner, it appeared on the table without fuss – delicious and nutritious.

Susan was a quiet and gentle person. A great listener, strong in her beliefs and soft in her judgement. She respected the autonomy of all people, especially children, and the disabled. A compassionate woman, she devoted herself to the service of others with no need for attention.

After John died in 2019 Susan continued to live at home, enjoying the birds at the feeders, the flowers, the river, and her many daily visitors. She was fortunate to have very kind neighbours and friends who checked on her regularly, as well as her devoted young caregiver, Teagan Shirilov, with whom she developed a close friendship.

Sadly, in late October Susan had a fall which landed her in hospital, and from which she was unable to recover. Susan was surrounded by her family in her final days, and died after a very brief but peaceful stay at Bethell Hospice.

A service of remembrance will be held at Christ Church Bolton, 22 Nancy Street, on Monday, November 16 at 11am. There will be time for visitation between 10:30am-11am.

Donations in Susan’s memory can be made to the Bethell Hospice Foundation or Christ Church Bolton. Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com