Ada was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the second youngest of six children with three older brothers, one older and one younger sister.
She was athletic, excelling in speed skating and other winter sports-including hockey and running across rubber ice during the spring thaw. She loved her Scottish roots, including shortbread, Scottish dancing and the bagpipes. Ada worked in a Fort Saskatchewan dental office in her teenage years, and throughout her life kept the Canadian tradition of serving tea. She was a consummate hostess and loved sharing an elegant table.
She completed college in Vancouver, B.C., and as a traveling nurse met her future husband, Dave Dorn, whom she married Dec. 14, 1953. They spent 67 wonderful years together, which included travel to all continents and living abroad, often wearing their signature world map jackets and making lifelong friends. She maintained her interests in nursing and health although transitioned to full-time homemaker after marriage. With the family she enjoyed hiking and camping. She grew many of the familyâs fruits and vegetables, canned and made jams and pickles all summer long and sewed many of their clothes.Â