DORIS MARJORIE HOLMES (FORSTER)

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DORIS MARJORIE HOLMES (nee FORSTER) June 27, 1904 November 10, 2007 On Saturday, November 10, 2007 after living more than a century of huge changes, from horse and buggy days to space travel, before telephones and television to worldwide instant communication, Doris Holmes died at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg in her 104th year. Left with loving memories of their mother are her children Lynne and Jack and their families: Lynne's husband Don Paterson, their sons Andrew, Duncan and wife Shannon and their daughters Isabella and Serena Paterson, and daughter Heather. Her son Jack and wife Christina, their two daughters Susanna Holmes, Caroline Blosch-Holmes and husband Reto Blosch-Holmes and their daughter Annik, and son Christoffer (Bobo) Holmes. She was a favourite Auntie Do to many Forster family and Holmes family nieces and nephews. Doris was pre-deceased by her husband Monty in 1981, and was the last of her generation on either side of their family. Doris was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Winnipeg Beach, where you can still visit Forster Park, named for her father. She graduated from Normal school at the age of 19 and first taught in a one-room schoolhouse in St. Andrew's, Manitoba, where she boarded at the rectory of Manitoba's oldest church St. Andrew's on the Red. Her great adventure in life began when she moved to Flin Flon in 1930 and became the first teacher there. Her many stories about teaching in The Little Red Schoolhouse kept us all in stitches. She loved teaching, loved her students and was loved by them in return. In 1936 Doris married the love of her life, Monty Holmes, and the two of them enjoyed a full social life and community involvement in the growing mining town. Ever the resourceful, active person, Doris curled with her own set of rocks that she pulled on a toboggan to the rink. She was particularly proud of having skipped her rink to the Hudson's Bay Mining Smelting championship. Their golf course was a dry lake bed near the entrance to the mine, and she played badminton and tennis on makeshift courts. The biting cold of northern Manitoba did not deter her or her friends from skating on outdoor rinks and going to hockey games, the most popular pastime in Flin Flon. She and Monty loved music, dancing, parties and entertaining their many friends. When her children, Lynne and Jack, came along, she was thrilled to be a mother. She was delighted to be a part of their school and community activities and took great pride in their accomplishments throughout her life. Doris was happiest when she was busy and devoted a great deal of her time and energy to volunteerism and her favourite charities. From transporting sick babies by air to the hospital in Flin Flon to delivering Meals on Wheels in Vancouver in her late eighties she remained a committed volunteer all her life and an active member of many charitable organizations to her last day. Doris and Monty retired to Vancouver in 1969, where she continued as a volunteer for another 30 years and was particularly active in the Girl Guides of Canada (Trefoil Club) and many other women's organizations. She travelled the world both with Monty and after his death in 1981, with many dear friends from a number of these organizations. In her nineties she moved to Winnipeg and particularly enjoyed her five years at the Portsmouth where she made many new friends and particularly enjoyed joining the University Women's Club Bridge, in which she played as a partner with her daughter until the age of 101. She was very proud when she and Lynne won the high score in their group when she was 100 years old! Other occasions that brought her particular joy were both her 99th and 100th birthday parties that she celebrated at Portsmouth with all her friends and relatives from Flin Flon and around the world. When her activities were curtailed by a stroke in 2006, Doris was fortunate to reside at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg where she received loving and respectful care from the dedicated caregivers and staff. Her family is very grateful for the tender and dignified treatment she received. In accordance with her wishes her body has been donated to science and a Celebration of Doris' life will be held at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. on Friday, November 16, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Agnes Guild of Children's Hospital care of G. Lamont at 47 Waterloo St., Winnipeg, R3N 0S3, or CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg. As Doris dismissed her class at the end of each day, we leave you with the Benediction she recited to her students: May the Lord watch between me and thee while we're absent one from another . THOMSON IN THE PARK Funeral Home and Cemetery www.thomsoninthepark.com 925-1120 Life stories may be shared with friends and family across the globe at www.mem.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 15, 2007