MARY THERESA DORASH (BALL) (MCDONELL)

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MARY THERESA DORASH (BALL) (nee MCDONELL) Peacefully on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the Grace Hospital, with her family by her side, Mary Theresa Dorash passed away at the age of 92 years. Theresa was predeceased by her husband Frank Dorash, her son Tom Ball, and her parents Duncan and Katherine McDonell. She was also predeceased by her granddaughter Danielle Ball, sister Bernice Wall, brother-in-law Alan Wall, daughter-in-law Diane Ball, niece Marilyn Wall and nephew David Wall. Left to cherish her memory are her children Larry (Cindy), Ken, Jim (Lori), Arthur, Theresa (Dwight) Wolfe, Stephen (Dru), Dorothy (Kevin) Blight, Miriam (Roger) Cavenaille and Gordon (Maria); sisters Dorothy (George) Minalga and Marguerite (Jim) Emslie; Horace Arthur Ball, Cathy Ball, Anne Ball and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Theresa was born on November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB. She grew up in St. Eustache, MB. Her mother taught at the Allarie School and her father worked on the family farm and for the Good Roads. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1938. She graduated from the Saint-Joseph Collegiate Institute (St. Boniface) in 1937 and continued on to Success Business College where she studied to be a stenographer. Her first job was at Minto Armouries as a secretary for an officer in 1939. She met Horace Arthur Ball when he worked on the Scaife farm at Marquette, MB. Art was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force and was transferred to Nova Scotia. Theresa joined him there and they married on February 4, 1940. They eventually moved back to Winnipeg and raised 10 children in the family home in Charleswood. She joined the Canadian Army Militia at Minto Armouries on October 15, 1962 and was discharged on June 27, 1963 with the rank of Private. She was Assistant Supervisor of Admitting at the Misericordia General Hospital for many years. While there she completed the Managerial Development Program and a course in Hospital Department Management. She later worked in Admitting at the Grace Hospital. She developed a keen interest in medicine and health care and her medical terminology textbook was usually close by. She remarried in 1987 to Frank Dorash. Theresa was a strong believer in her religion (Catholic) and found much comfort in her beliefs. She was very interested in politics and was an avid Liberal supporter for many years. She spent many hours working for John Harvard. In 2001 she was recognized for outstanding service and contribution as a volunteer by the Government of Canada. She loved books and music, playing both piano and organ. She was also an avid gardener and spent many hours among her plants and flowers. She loved to travel and made many trips to the Bahamas where she loved to walk on the beach and collect shells. She travelled extensively in Europe and her last major trip was to Israel in 2001. Later she travelled to Halifax, NS by train. She stayed in a hostel on the harbour front and worked in a soup kitchen on Christmas Day. She was a generous person and would give away everything she had to those in need. Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma you will forever be missed. Thank you to the staff on 3 South at the Grace Hospital for your kindness and caring during Mom's final days. Funeral service will be held Friday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave. Interment to follow in Assumption Cemetery. Mom's life was all about giving, so in lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. Chapel Lawn www.chapellawn.mb.ca 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 05, 2011