Obituary of Dorothy Mary Funk

Dorothy Mary Funk (née Sinyard), age 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving children. Born on March 21, 1934, in Heart’s Content, Newfoundland, Dorothy was a selfless and kind-hearted mother whose greatest joy was her family.  Her love was unconditional, and she gave of herself endlessly to ensure the happiness and well-being of them.

Dorothy leaves behind with fond memories her children Suzanne (Mark), Paul (Melissa), Colleen (Rob), and Mark (Colleen); grandchildren Devin, Lauren, Peter, Laura, Maggie, Alexander, Benjamin, and Timothy; great-grandchildren Dawson, Lila, and Jack; sister-in-law Cathy Sinyard; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

Dorothy was predeceased by her beloved son Sean (Michelle); her parents George and Margaret Sinyard; sisters Marie, Jean, and Eleanor; and brother Rex.

Some of Dorothy’s fondest memories were of growing up in Heart’s Content, a town she dearly loved. She often reminisced about her carefree childhood—summers spent playing on the beach and down by the lighthouse, and winters skating on the pond. She spoke of how blessed she felt to have hard-working parents and the modern conveniences of running water and electricity, a rarity at the time. This was possible because Heart’s Content held a special place in history as the site of the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable, connecting North America to Europe—something Dorothy always took great pride in.

At the age of twelve, Dorothy’s family moved to Harbour Grace, where she completed high school at the top of her class and went on to attend post-secondary education at Littledale in St. John’s. After completing her studies, she began working at the Bank of Nova Scotia, a job she truly enjoyed. Dorothy loved to travel, skate, play tennis, and—above all—to dance. Elvis Presley was one of her favourites and she carried her love of his music throughout her life.

Dorothy was also a devoted Catholic who held her faith close throughout her life. She often spoke of the importance of preserving her Catholic roots and living by the values of forgiveness, compassion and gratitude.

In the prime of her life, Dorothy accepted a position at the American Naval Base in Argentia, Newfoundland, where she fondly recalled the fun times and lively dances at the Blue Room. It was there that she made lasting friendships and met her future husband, Bill (Funk). After their marriage in 1964 and the birth of their first child in Newfoundland, Dorothy and Bill settled in the suburbs of Philadelphia where they welcomed three more children. The family later moved to Portland, Maine—where their family grew to five children before eventually relocating to Germantown, Tennessee. During her time there, Dorothy fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Graceland on more than one occasion. 

In November 1980, Dorothy returned to Harbour Grace with her children, where she raised them with the same love, courage, devotion, resilience, and quiet strength that her parents had instilled in her. She remained devoted to her family throughout her life, taking joy in her children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments, and offering steadfast love and support every step of the way.

Dorothy lived her life with determination, grace, and an unwavering commitment to those she loved. She will be remembered for her kindness, her love of music, her stories of growing up in Heart’s Content, and her ability to live life on her own terms—she truly did it her way. 

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Aunt Cathy for her love, patience, and unwavering support; to Dave and Estelle for always being there with love; and to Jackie, her dedicated home care worker and cherished friend, for her exceptional care and companionship. Their evening rituals of watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together will be fondly remembered, and Thursdays will forever be known as apricot square day.

A sincere thank-you to the staff at Compassionate Home Care in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland for their time and kindness, and to the doctors and nurses at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre in Truro, Nova Scotia, for the compassionate care they provided to Mom in her final days.

Cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be held at a later date, with interment in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Harbour Grace, Newfoundland.