DR. DORIS BOYCE SAUNDERS

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DR. DORIS BOYCE SAUNDERS Dr. Doris Boyce Saunders died peacefully on May 3, 2003 at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. She was born in Winnipeg on November 16, 1901, and celebrated her 100th birthday last year hosted by St. Georges Anglican Church and the University Womens Club. She was surrounded by friends and family, with messages read from the Queen and the Governor General and a toast proposed by Dr. Emoke Szathmary, President of the University of Manitoba. Dr. Saunders grew up in Winnipeg, graduating from Kelvin High School in 1917. She entered the Faculty of Arts at the University of Manitoba holding the Sir James Aikin Scholarship in English, and graduated in 1921 with the Gold Medal in both English and Philosophy. She was an early member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Following a year of study in England, she received a First Class Professional Certificate and taught in a rural consolidated school. From 1923 to 25, she taught at Machray Junior High and Kelvin High School while working on her thesis. She received her Masters Degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 1925. For the next year, Dr. Saunders studied at St. Hughs College, Oxford on a Canadian Federation of University Womens Travelling Fellowship. She had intended to study for her PhD degree, but was informed upon her arrival that Oxford did not approve of Doctorate degrees for women, so she enrolled in a Bachelor of Letters program, completing her thesis on the life of Dr. Johnson. She was finally awarded the degree in 1936 and it was upgraded to a Masters Degree in 1979. In 1928, Dr. Saunders became the first woman to be appointed to the Department of English at the University of Manitoba. She was the Dean of Junior Women from 1933 to 45. She became an Assistant Professor in 1941 and a full Professor in 1959, the first woman in the Faculty of Arts to hold this position. Dr. Saunders was appointed Registrar of the new University College from 1964 until her retirement in 1968. Dr. Saunders was an early member of the University Womens Club, serving on many committees and becoming President of the local chapter as well as President of the Canadian Federation. Each summer she travelled to her favourite place on Teachers Island at Clearwater Bay, always with a foursome for bridge and books to read. Doris will be remembered for her intelligence and ability, her quick humour, her creativity in the skits at the Club, and the strength of her character. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her: her family, long-time friends at the University Womens Club, the Twenty Club and at St. Georges Church. Dr. Saunders is survived by cousins, Shirley McMillan, and Pamela LeBoldus and their families, Mervin and Helen Saunders of Ottawa and their family and John Villeneuve of Arizona. We are very grateful to Mary, Carol, Ava, Carmel, Raquel, Myrna and Angie whose wonderful care of Dr. Saunders enabled her to remain in her own home for so long. The family is most appreciative of the care and kindness shown to Dr. Saunders at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg during the last two months. A memorial service will be held at St. Georges Anglican Church at Grosvenor and Wilton on Tuesday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m. THOMSON Funeral Chapels - 669 Broadway - 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 07, 2003