Kit Vollick

VOLLICK, Dorothy “Kit” Ann (née Gillis)

June 13, 1935 - September 11, 2025

Dorothy “Kit” was born in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland to Hugh and Florence (née Dubourdieu) Gillis, and grew up in Sydney (formerly New Glascow), Nova Scotia, with her beloved older sisters Margaret and Patricia. After completing high school, Kit spent a short time as a schoolteacher before she joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. There she met Eugene Vollick in basic training, and they were wed 1957. They bore three sons, Gene, Shane (1959-1961), Dean (Andrew Saxe) and one daughter, Lisa (Jordy Scott). In 1964 Gene retired from the Air Force they moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Port Robinson.
Kit was very involved in the community life of Port Robinson and was instrumental in raising the funds for the first renovation of the old Port Robinson Schoolhouse, which became the Port Robinson Community Center (later renamed the Darlene Ryan Center). She made costumes for church pageants and participated in the social life of the Port Robinson Volunteer Fire Department, where Gene served several terms as the fire chief. Kit held many part-time jobs while she was raising her children, including time as a waitress, store clerk, and proofreader at The Welland Tribune, but her great love was nursing, and she spent many years caring for the elderly at Sunset Haven in Welland.
In their retirement, Gene and Kit discovered Manitoulin Island, where they bought and renovated a small cottage on Sliver Lake. This became their summer home. Here they enjoyed family time, card games with neighbours, swimming, fishing, and exploring the island, and making maple syrup. Music played a huge role in their family life, and Kit enjoyed opera, musical theatre, sixties and seventies dance music, blue grass, folk, big band standards, and Christmas carols. Many nights were spent, in Port Robinson and Manitoulin, with friends and family playing and singing, and sometimes dancing. Kit had the voice of an angel, and it blended so sweetly with Gene’s as they sang many Gorden Lightfoot songs as duets.
Gene passed in 2018, and it was difficult for Kit to travel to the island. She was able to stay in the family home in Port Robinson under the loving care of her son Gene, and her daughter Lisa until the day of her passing.  
Friends and family have used words like playful spirit, happy smile, sweet, funny, kind, amazing hospitality, and devoted animal lover, in describing Kit and everyone always remarked on her singing voice.
Kit is survived by her children, Gene, Dean, and Lisa, her dear grand children, Michael Mercer, and Raven Tanner, her sister-in-law Barbara Koski, her brother-in-law Ronnie Vollick, many loving nieces and nephews. One niece wrote, “Heaven has gained the kindest, most gentle soul.”  
Please join her family in Celebrating her life at the Darlene Ryan Centre 40 Cross Street, Port Robinson on Monday, November 10, 2025 from 12:00 – 2:30 PM. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society may be left, along with online condolences at www.Bocchinfusofh.com