Doris Eileen Semchych

Doris Eileen Semchych was born on October 14, 1934 and passed away peacefully in Calgary, Alberta on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at the age of 88 years. She grew up in a log house on a small farm in Shortdale, Manitoba that her first-generation Ukrainian-Canadian parents, John and Mary Semchych (née Luky), purchased in what was then semi-isolated wilderness. She achieved a grade-nine education, which was no small feat, as she had to endure a long walk through the bush contending with weather and animals to reach the one-room school house.

Doris always had an independent and adventurous spirit. It took an enormous amount of courage for her to leave home and strike out on her own at the tender age of fifteen, moving to Toronto to work as a waitress. She continued to gain sales, management, and bookkeeping experience through several retail jobs until she moved to Calgary in 1957 and was hired by Zellers. With an aptitude for math, a photographic memory, and unwavering common sense, Doris parlayed her limited education into the national position of Internal Auditor and Office Specialist (Financial Branch), which had her travelling frequently across the country to oversee accounting departments and to open new stores. She worked with Zellers for forty-two years until she retired in 1999 with a full pension. After retirement, Doris worked part-time as a food demonstrator in Calgary grocery stores from 2000 - 2012.

Family was very important to Doris. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, especially to her siblings, as they followed in her footsteps and struck out on their own across Canada. Although Doris never married, she often reminded everyone that she was, “an unclaimed treasure.” Doris was the most favoured aunt to all her nieces and nephews, and she treated them as if they were her own children. Doris will be remembered for her kind heart and generous spirit. She was always bright and cheerful, sharing her wisdom with us all. Doris will be missed dearly, but never forgotten.

In the words of Doris – 1999:

I am the first child of Mary and John Semchych. Anxious to start my life, I was born two months premature at home in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba on October 14, 1934. Long before modern-day incubators, Mom used common sense and kept me warm by placing me on the open oven door of the wood stove. I was also bathed in olive oil for thirty days to keep my skin from drying out.

I began school at Winona Public School in Shortdale, but from grades 2 to 4, Mom taught me the curriculum through correspondence. I then completed grades 5 to 9 at North Pozir School. I was a very good student. In grade 6, I always managed to get 100% on math and spelling tests, and because of my good grades, I was able to skip grade 7 altogether.

At fifteen years old, I graduated public school in grade 9 and moved to Toronto for six months. There, I lived with my Aunt Elizabeth and her husband, Epiphany Kocha, while waitressing in a family restaurant. I came back to Shortdale in the fall and then moved to Swan River, where I worked as a clerk in a retail store for five years. I then went to Calgary and started working with Zellers in 1957 as a general office person. After three years, I was promoted to Office Manager, and six years after that, Zellers appointed me as an Internal Auditor and Office Specialist. For the next thirteen years, I travelled extensively with the company and worked in every province in Canada. In 1971, I lived in Montreal. I then moved to Hamilton in 1972 and stayed there until 1977, when I was transferred to Calgary. Three years later, I was transferred to Edmonton. In 1981, I moved back to Calgary, where I still reside. I am proud to have completed forty-two years’ service with Zellers.

In 1986, my Mom moved from Dauphin to live with me in Calgary, where I looked after her until she died in 1990. This year, I’m looking forward to my retirement years, in which I plan to enjoy life to the fullest and be my own boss.

Doris was the oldest of five children and is survived by her siblings: Albert (Mary) Semchuk, Larry (Terri) Semchuk, Elizabeth (James) Kitch, and Eugene (Pamela) Semchych. Her nieces and nephews: Dean Semchuk, Warren Semchuk, Sandra (Peter) Kitch Markovich, Debra Semchuk, Linda Kitch Rhyason, Kristofer Semchych, and Melanie (Denny) Semchych LeBreton. Her great-nieces and great-nephews: Ryan Semchuk, Bradley Semchuk, Leanne Semchuk, Erik Rhyason, Rachel Rhyason, Katerina Markovich, Daniel Markovich, Elize LeBreton, and Remy LeBreton.

A Celebration of Doris’ Life will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Sunday, June 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM.

Interment and a Graveside Memorial will take place this summer in Swan River, Manitoba at the Birchwood Cemetery at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 12, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of her favourite charities, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation via https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.