Dorene was born in Preston, Ontario to Ivan and Adah Shantz. She had one sister, Edith, who presently lives in Victoria, BC. After high school, Dorene took a business course in Galt, Ontario and throughout her working life was employed by various organizations as a bookkeeper.
In October 1953, she married Stan Gingerich. They farmed near Zurich, Ontario. In 1957, their son, Bryan, was born followed by daughter, Gwen, in 1958. In 1965, Stan and Dorene decided to quit farming and moved to the Kitchener-Waterloo area where they lived and worked until their retirement in 1994. During those years in K-W Dorene was actively involved in her church and sang in various choral groups. Both she and Stan were good singers and were passionate about choral and classical music.
After their retirement, Stan and Dorene packed up and moved to Chilliwack, BC to be closer to their children and grandsons, Denver and Travis. They soon connected with a church and became involved with music. They also volunteered in various community activities. After 3 years in Chilliwack, Stan and Dorene decided to return to the familiarity of K-W, Ontario where they reconnected with friends and church until Stan’s passing in October 2001.
Once again, Dorene packed up and this time headed to Victoria, BC where she lived until 2010. She thoroughly enjoyed the balmy winters of coastal BC and the early spring with its abundance of flowers. Dorene joined the Oak Bay United Church where she sang in the choir and volunteered as an offering counter. She also had many opportunities to spend time with her sister Edith, and daughter Gwen who lives on the Sunshine Coast, as well as extended family who live in the Vancouver area.
In 2010, Dorene moved back to Chilliwack where she lived until her passing in 2021. She once again became involved in choirs, singing in the Carmen United Church Choir and the Heritage Singers. She used her organizational skills by volunteering her time to be the music filer for the Heritage Singers. Her fine alto voice was valued both by the choirs she sang with and in family sing-a-longs.
Throughout her years, Dorene enjoyed family gatherings. In the last few years these gatherings were enriched by the addition of two wonderful granddaughters who married into the family. She enjoyed visiting with Travis and Lauren and hearing about their education experiences and outdoor adventures. In April 2021 Dorene was overjoyed when her eldest grandson, Denver, and his wife, Naomi, presented her with a great granddaughter, Isabella, who she affectionately referred to as “Sweetie Pie”. Dorene was very proud of her family and enjoyed spending time with them.
Dorene displayed a genuine interest and curiosity in the lives of others. Throughout her life, she contributed to many community organizations dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of others. She was a dedicated homemaker and exhibited her talents as a gardener, seamstress, embroidery enthusiast, quilter and cook/baker. She will be remembered fondly for her special recipe for coffee cake and cinnamon buns, as well as raisin and concord grape pie. In her personal life she was a concert goer, a lover of Tim Hortons coffee, and a world traveler.
After Dorene lost her ability to walk in 2019, she displayed great determination by getting around on her scooter and electric wheelchair. She was a very practical person and found ways to adapt to the challenges of her new situation. As a life-long, avid reader she continued to make many trips to the Chilliwack library, now with the help of Black Beauty (her scooter), to stock up on mysteries and historical fiction. She continued to live independently until she was hospitalized in August 2021, shortly before her passing.
Dorene felt very blessed to have Dr. Sholtz as her physician. Dorene’s family is grateful to the nursing team on 3N and 4S at Chilliwack General Hospital for their professionalism and kindness in caring for Dorene. The nursing staff were instrumental in arranging for in-person, telephone and FaceTime visits for family members.
Dorene will be lovingly remembered by her immediate family: Bryan and Colleen; Gwen; Denver, Naomi and Isabella; Travis and Lauren; and her sister, Edith.
You are welcome to join the family for a Celebration of Life Tea which will be held at Henderson’s Funeral Home, 45901 Victoria Ave, Chilliwack, BC on Saturday, September 25th at 2:00 pm. Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hendersonsfunerals.com for the GINGERICH family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to Conrad Grebel University College, Habitat for Humanity Canada, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) BC, or Ruth and Naomi’s Mission (RAN).
Dorene Hilda GINGERICH, age 92, of Chilliwack, British Columbia passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2021. Dorene was born April 8, 1929.
A celebration of life for Dorene will be held Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Henderson's Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 45901 Victoria Ave, Chilliwack, BC V2P2S9.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared through the "Add a Memory" link below.
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