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 Doreen Atkinson 1938-2008 Doreen was born on March 8, 1938 in Edmonton; she grew up in Alberta Beach and Pouce Coupe before settling in Dawson Creek with her family. She married Ralph Atkinson on February 8, 1958. They had three children Joanne, Robbie, and Michelle. She went to Northern Lights College and became a bookkeeper. She worked for Randy Benoiten before her and Lila Derfler opened A & D office services. She was at A & D office services until her time of death. She loved her work and her clients. Her work was her life. Doreen and Ralph enjoyed their time with their children playing cards, baseball, and hockey. Doreen enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved to read, cross-stitch, and knit sweaters for her grandchildren. Doreen and Ralph also both enjoyed bowling. She will be greatly missed by all including her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sisters, sister in-law, brother in-laws, nieces, nephews and many friends. Dear Grandma, Death is very hard but sometimes life can be harder. We know how much pain you were in and now we can be happy because that pain is gone and you are in a better place. We all will miss you tremendously. It’s amazing to realize how many people you have influenced including us five. Jamie for example is such a caring mother and does a great job teaching her kids while being stern with them just like you did. Jesse has grown into a man so quickly. He is responsible and working hard at his job to make a great life for himself just like you did. Mathew also understands the importance of hard work and has learned from your patience. He knows his time will come he just has to be ready. He is still the fashion freak you taught him to be and it shows each day when he chooses his shoes very carefully just like you did. Alex found out the hard way that when you play cards for money you mean business. He learned at a young age that betting his lunch money with you before school would not only leave him broke but hungry once noon came. Alex has learned many things from you, like the importance of my education, my finances, my goals, and most importantly my happiness. I work hard at life now because I realize how hard my family before me has worked. I will spend my life working to make things better for my grandchildren just like you did. I am who I am with your help. We all are who we are because of you. Grandma, it is important to tell the people here today that in no way is this goodbye; it’s just “see you later”. We love you and miss you already. WITH LOVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN Jamie, Jesse, Erik, Mathew, Alex. Written by Doreen’s sister, Judy Hunter and read by her niece Richelle Greek. I’m the youngest and favorite of the five Ed and Jeanne Hunter children. In the last week or so I have been doing an awful lot of thinking and thought I would share a few things that keep coming to mind about Doreen, who I called Dee Dee when I was very young. She has always been my big sister, even when at 8, I was bigger than she was. I don’t know much about her younger years because I’m around the same age as her kids but I do remember a story mom used to tell about a holiday, I think it was to Yellowstone Park, Bud and Bob had been saving comic books for the Big trip and had collected a box full. Somewhere along the road Doreen got sick and threw up in the box. Dad pulled the car over and chucked the box of comics in the ditch. Mom said the boys were so mad she thought they were going to kill her. Doreen was a businesswoman and worked very hard over the years to build up A & D Office Services, which she did mostly on her own. From what I know, I believe she was a good businesswoman. She could be very tough and very stubborn, sometimes to the point that you just wanted to grab her and give her a good shake, I don’t think she would deny this. She wasn’t perfect but who is, for sure not me. She wasn’t a huggy kissy type, and seldom let her emotions show but there was a soft, sentimental and very generous side to Doreen people might not know. Every now and then over the years a birthday card would arrive from her and the theme would always be the same. I know I don’t say it but you know. And I did know, they were always signed Love D. I remember as a kid Christmas Eve’s. We were allowed to open one gift and I always picked the one from Doreen. I knew that it would be the greatest gift and it always was. She loved to play cards and I remember her coming to the house Wednesday nights to play crib with dad. The stakes were always the same, a quarter a game, 50 cents a skunk, and before I would go to bed we always played one game of “Happy” so I could play too. The ante was 15 cents, I don’t remember if they let me win but somehow I think so. A couple of times I’ve got myself into a bit of a bind and it would only take one phone call to Doreen, she would never judge and would always help me out. Once I arrived home jobless and she didn’t think twice, she gave me a job. For a time I bowled on her bowling team curled on her curling team and I knew no matter what happened in my life she would always be on my side. I was home this summer and got to help celebrate her and Ralph’s belated 50th Wedding Anniversary. We all sat around together after supper, with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake who’s name has been censored, talking about everything and talking about nothing. Doreen said she had really enjoyed the evening and I had too. There are some things in life you just know. I know she loved her family and I know she loved us. She didn’t have to say. The last time we spoke was a couple of days before she left for Ohio. She called to say she was going. Her conversation has always started the same way with “Hi Jude,” I can still see her crooked little smile. I asked her “How she was feeling”? To which she replied “really good”, that’s what she always said, I know it was for my benefit. She said they were getting ready to go to Jo’s. I asked her if she was up for the trip. She said “Yup”, and that Ralph and Michelle would be there. The last thing I said to her was to give everyone my love and to have a good trip. I should have told her that I loved her and I’m sorry I didn’t but I know she knew. In my heart I know she has been reunited with the very best of the best. I just hope she has enough quarters. A Memorial service was held on September 25, 2008 at the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church, Dawson Creek, British Columbia, officiated by Father Michael Anyasoro. Inurnment followed in the Dawson Creek City Cemetery Columbarium. |
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