Dorothy Maria Debiche was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, on September 23, 1957. She became a big sister to her brother Michel in 1961 and worked hard at caring for and protecting him as they grew up together.

Dorothy had a tremendous appetite for life. She sought beauty and joy everywhere, in nature (especially the mountains), in art, in dance, in food and cooking, and in shared experiences with all the people around her. Dorothy sought to squeeze as much as possible out of every experience. She was an insistent optimist, a perfectionist, brilliant, creative, and extroverted. In her youth, she was a top student and an avid dancer. She studied at Queen's University in Ontario, the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, and the University of Calgary, where she ultimately completed the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. A talented artist, she exhibited her work in Toronto and Calgary. She also worked as an experienced and sought-after life drawing model and had her own commercial faux-surface painting business.

In 1996, Dorothy gave birth naturally to her daughter Juniper with her longtime partner, Martin Brock, in The President apartment building in Calgary. Juniper was by far the greatest source of joy and beauty in Dorothy's life. In later years, Dorothy found great comfort in the companionship of her beloved cats, Minuit and Muffin.

Dorothy loved music, especially singing; in recent years she sang regularly in the Calgary Unitarians music program. And Dorothy danced, formally, performing in many events and venues, and informally, wherever and whenever the spirit moved her, which was often. Dorothy loved to experience new people and cultures and traveled widely in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Dorothy was also passionate about, and active in, a number of causes, including social justice, environmentalism, and feminism.

Dorothy was a fiercely autonomous person. She recognized no authority over her, and had little use for many social norms. She had tremendous conviction in her beliefs and incredible powers of persuasion. Dorothy faced many challenges in her life, which she met with resilience, resourcefulness, and an indomitable will, along with generous and compassionate support from many people around her. At her best, Dorothy could enliven any gathering and engage and inspire people in surprising ways. In one remarkable instance, she incited an entire Chicago subway car to belt out a rendition of the Mickey Mouse club "Alma Mater" song until she reached her stop.

Dorothy's spiritual interests ran deep and broad. Her mother was a holocaust survivor from a Jewish Romanian family, many of whom now live in Israel, but for complicated reasons, she did not learn that until she was a teenager and initially attended Roman Catholic Church. She eventually found her way on to the path of Sufism, taking the name Zohra, and later also found a spiritual home base with the Calgary Unitarians.

When cancer came in December 2020, Dorothy responded with incredible grit. She had living left to do, so against all odds, she emerged from several months in hospital to return to her apartment and live on her own, and not just walk but dance again, including back in her beloved hills and mountains. She fought for every day, and was profoundly grateful for each one; for the sun on her face, the feel of a fresh breeze, the chance to sing, and the smell of good food or coffee. Most of all, she was grateful for the love and support of those close to her who made living both possible and worthwhile for her until she peacefully crossed over the rainbow bridge on September 17, 2022.