Dora Becker (nee Dueckman)

Dora was born on December 19, 1939, in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, to Jakob and Anna (nee Nickel/Nikkel) Dueckman, the youngest child of seven siblings; John, Jacob, Mary, David, Agnes, Leo. Dora was definitely an afterthought, arriving six years after Leo. For the first six years of her life the family lived on a farm near Herschel, Saskatchewan.

The family moved to British Columbia in May of 1946, soon buying a house on Hazel Street in Chilliwack. The following September Dora started Grade one at Chilliwack Central School. Life progressed normally for the family; older brothers and sisters getting married and leaving home; until Dora was thirteen. It was at this time that her mother died suddenly one Saturday morning. In a year's time, her father remarried and the new step-mother, Anna, had three children, Helen, Victor and Alfred. Dora and her father moved to Vancouver to join his new wife and family, which expanded to include Peter and Anna.

The family worshipped together at the First United Mennonite Church on 52 Ave. Here, Dora sang in the choir and went to Young Peoples. Since this was where Ed and his mother also worshipped, the two young people got to know each other. Dora was 16 and Ed was 18. Soon they were dating, and the Christmas following Dora's 19th birthday, they became engaged and were married July 12, 1959 at the First United Mennonite Church. Dora and Ed celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this past July.

A few months after their wedding, they bought their first home, and after two years their first child, Susan Elaine was born. Three years later, they were joined by James Edward and finally, the family was complete when Christopher Alan arrived. The family settled in Tsawwassen where they were involved in their church and community, making many lasting memories.

Dora’s greatest joy - and the thing she is remembered for most - was singing. From her youngest years to the end, she loved to sing - loudly! She sang solos in church, she sang in choirs, and she sang while she did her day-to-day chores.

Dora believed that serving in church and the community was her act of worship and it became the quality she was most known for. Her volunteer work reflected her own passions and convictions. Over the years, she taught Sunday School, led a group of Pioneer Girls, and served as a youth leader in her church. In the early 90s, Dora started volunteering at the local Crisis Pregnancy Centre. She believed very strongly that women in crisis needed help and support, and her God-given gifts of compassion and empathy enabled her to have a significant impact on those she counselled. Dora was influential in opening a CPC in Surrey and became its first director, then went on to serve on the national board. In recent years, Dora began volunteering at the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford. She loved talking about Mennonite History and culture and spent hours researching genealogies and family histories.

In early December of 2019, Dora fell off a stool during a choir rehearsal, suffering a spinal cord injury that left her a quadriplegic. She spent several weeks at VGH, then moved to GF Strong to learn how to navigate this new life. She was so grateful for the care she received at both places, but she particularly enjoyed the encouraging and positive atmosphere at GF Strong. Dora chose to see this new phase of her life as an exciting adventure, rather than a tragedy.

Dora is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Ed, who will miss her greatly. She was predeceased by her son, James, who passed away in 1980. The children who will miss her are Susan, Wayne, Chris, and Brenda. Granny will be missed by Craig, Jennifer, Curtis, Mary, Riley, Chloe, and Cara. And her great-grandchildren, Jacob, Sadie, Marcus, and Neo.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Community Central Church. Friday, August 12 at 2 pm