Doreen MacDonald

(NEE EDWARDS)

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Doreen MacDonald, beloved wife of Jack MacDonald, mother, grandmother and aunt. After a full and wonderful life, Doreen died peacefully on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at West Park Manor, one month short of her 92nd birthday.

Doreen will be deeply missed by her husband, Jack, having just celebrated their 62nd anniversary; their four children – Barbara (John Langstaff) and their children, Martyn and Rhys; Terry (Tracey Kernahan) and their children, Alexander and Georgia; Bruce (Wendy) and their children, Cassidy, Dylan and Kristin; Janice ( Ian Park) and their children, Emily and Owen. She is also survived by her dear sister , Megan Edwardh, of Minneapolis, and many nieces and nephews.

Doreen was predeceased by her parents, Louisa and Lewis Edwards, sisters, Jean Pacey and Lilian Nairne, and two brothers, Stanley and Reginald.

Doreen was born on June 22, 1921 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales U.K. and immigrated to Canada in 1927 with her parents and family which included three sisters and two brothers. The family settled on a farm near Cordova Manitoba.

Doreen started her schooling at Glenberg School near Cordova. Then in the late 1930’s the family moved to Fort Garry in Winnipeg where she completed her high school. After high school, she took a secretarial course at Success Business College and soon after was employed by Canadian Indemnity Insurance Company where she remained until her first child arrived at New Year’s Eve 1953.

Doreen met Jack while on a week’s cruise on Lake Winnipeg to Norway House in the summer of 1946 on the SS Keenora (now in the Marine Museum at Selkirk), and their romance blossomed. They married on April 21, 1951 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church.

As their children began to arrive, Barbara in 1953, Terry in 1956, Bruce in 1958, and Janice in 1962, they became very attracted to camping and lake life in the summers. They rented cottages in the Whiteshell and Kenora areas, and eventually acquired a cottage on Inglis Road on Clearwater Bay which became the focal point for many gatherings with family and close friends. She enjoyed her wildflowers, the loons, the peacefulness of the lake and was a master of the side-stroke.

Doreen played badminton and tennis for many years and was a member of the old Winnipeg Badminton Club, the Wildwood Club and the Canoe Club. She was also an excellent five pin bowler and continued to bowl well into her late eighties at the Academy Uptown Bowling Lanes. At the season windups, she often came away with prizes and trophies for high average, high three, high single.

Doreen and Jack were long time members of the Royal Scottish country Dance Society and thoroughly enjoyed all the dancing events. With Jack’s involvement with the St. Andrew’s Society, they participated in many Scottish events where she proudly enjoyed wearing her Welsh Tartan plaid kilt.

Doreen was an active member for many decades in Harrow United Church. From the time her children began attending Sunday school, she served as a teacher and as coordinator for the Junior Department for about 25 years. She was very active in the Harrow UCW and served as the chair of Unit 6 for nearly 20 years. After retiring from the Sunday school as a teacher, she joined the Harrow choir and with her Welsh background and love of music, she enjoyed contributing to the music ministry of the church.

Doreen was the one who, over the years saw all the children through their school programs, and took great pride in seeing them all graduate from University and eventually go on to pursue various professions and careers.

She enjoyed travelling, and joined Jack on some of his badminton travels. She made several trips overseas, one to London, England to visit Barbara in 1984. She especially enjoyed another trip to London where she had a tour of Wales and Scotland with her daughters-in-law, Wendy and Tracey. There were other trips to Austria, Japan and Singapore and Malaysia for badminton and sight seeing.

As she began to experience health concerns she had to limit her activities, but tried to continue with her knitting, reading and baking. She loved animals and especially her cats which she doted on in later years. She always took a keen interest in the lives of her nine grandchildren. She was extremely proud of each and every one of them and all their accomplishments. And never to be forgotten are her many years of sumptuous Sunday dinners always finished off by one of her famous pies- always a perfect crust! She was a great cook and baker and took great delight in making sure the cookie jar was always full for her grandchildren.

Doreen’s life was full – she looked on the positive side of every situation and saw the best in people. The twinkle in her eye and her beautiful smile will be forever remembered by all who knew her. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at both the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg and West Park Manor where Doreen spent her final months.

A Celebration of Doreen’s dedicated life will be at Harrow United Church, corner of Harrow and Mulvey on Saturday June 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, if friends wish to make a donation in Doreen’s memory, please remember the Winnipeg Humane Society, 45 Hurst Way, Winnipeg. R3T 0R3, or to the Harrow United Church Memorial Fund, 955 Mulvey Ave, Winnipeg MB R3M 1G8, or to a charity of your choice.