Dorothy DESJARDIN

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DESJARDIN: 1920-2016 Passed away at Notre Dame Hospital on Friday, November4, 2016, at the age of 96 years, Dorothy Eleanor Desjardin (nee Chestnut) of Morden, formerly of Dauphin and Ochre River. Dorothy leaves to mourn her passing her three children: Lynda (Robert) Wheeler of Treherne, Dawne (Len) Mackling of Morden, and Bobby (Denise) Desjardin of Brandon; her five grandchildren: Carolynne (Mark) MacKinnon, Heather (Jason) Westmacott, Kelly (Ryan)Vipond, Landon Desjardin, and Adam Desjardin and his fiancée Shelby Duncalfe ; her seven great-grandchildren: Alexandra, Aiden and Rilyn, Iya and Portia, Ryder and Layla, as well as numerous extended relatives and friends. Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Bob in 1993, her six brothers: George, Walter, John, Joseph, Arthur and Elmer, her five sisters: Mary Rankin, Sadie Chestnut, Frances Kyle, Almeda McLeod, and Irene Chestnut, and her parents, Sarah and Archibald Chestnut. Mom was born in Passekeag, New Brunswick, a province of beautiful hills, flowing rivers and covered bridges, and lived in Sussex NB as a girl. As an adult, Mom worked as a waitress and had taken a stenographer’s course. When World War II broke out, Mom and her sister tried to join the Women’s Army Corps. Due to medical reasons, she was not accepted. Mom then went to Edmunston Aircraft School, and later to Victory Aircraft at Malton Ontario to help with the war effort building the Lancaster bombers. She was a classic “Rosie the Riveter.” It was at Malton that she met her future husband Robert (Bob) Desjardin, an aircraft mechanic who installed electronic equipment on the same airplanes Mom worked on. After the war ended, Mom and Dad were married in October 1945 in Winnipeg and then moved to Ochre River, MB to begin their life together. Mom was a loving wife and mother. She worked with her husband in the Ochre River Volunteer Fire Department, Dad as fire chief, Mom as the telephone operator who contacted all the volunteer firemen when there was a fire. She was the bookkeeper for Dad’s Texaco garage. She was Secretary Treasurer of the Ochre River Sunday School for many years, worked with the United Church Women’s group and sang in the choir. Mom enjoyed playing Bridge, golfing, curling and bowling, and doing needlework and crossword puzzles. Some of Mom’s favourite times were spent with her grandchildren and, later on, her great-grandchildren. She was always so interested in their lives, and her great-grandchildren in particular were so fortunate to have an interactive, loving connection with her. Mom moved to Dauphin at the age of 85 to an apartment in the Kinsmen Villa where she met new friends and reconnected with old friends. In 2015 she moved to Morden to a partially-assisted living complex. Here, with the help of her daughter Dawne and homecare, Mom was able to live somewhat independently until July 2016. On August 29 2016, Mom had to be admitted to Boundary Trails Hospital due to her failing health. On October 4, she was transferred to the Notre Dame Hospital where she was treated with kindness and good care until her death on November 4, 2016. We love you, Mom; we will miss you, but we know you and Dad are together again. Our memories build a special bridgeWhen loved ones have to partTo help us feel we’re with them stillAnd soothe a grieving heart.They span the years and warm our livesPreserving ties that bindOur memories build a special bridgeAnd bring us peace of mind-Emily MathewsFuneral services will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the Treherne United Church with Rev. Chuck Ross officiating. Reception to follow in the lower level of the church. Interment will take place at the Ochre River Cemetery at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friends that so wish, memorial donations can be made in Dorothy’s memory to the Dauphin and District Handivan Service, 55 1st Avenue SE, Dauphin MB, R7N 2A2 or to a charity of choice.

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 08, 2016