Doreen Joyce Best

Mom was born in Oakburn, Manitoba on July 6, 1931; the third of four children born to Ruth and Michael Dutchak. When Mom was a young girl, her family moved to Winnipeg and then to Beausejour. At the age of 18 she taught at a one room country school for one year and considered nursing school before Dad’s marriage proposal. They were married on January 6, 1951 and lived on an 80 acre farm in Beausejour, where Mom learned to throw a bale of hay with the best of them. Ever the dreamer, Mom had always wanted to own a business and so they bought the hardware store in Wapella, Saskatchewan, moving there in 1965. Living in this little prairie town had a profound impact on the family, with joyful memories of this time still being shared with children and grandchildren. After ten years in Wapella, Mom and Dad decided to move to British Columbia, where they settled for the remainder of their years.

Mom has always been a quiet leader and lived without fear of failure, taking on endless projects and then figuring out ways to complete them, often drawing others in with her contagious enthusiasm. Even at 89 years old, she would share with us how much she still wanted to accomplish in life.

Mom would want everyone to know how much she loved Jesus and how comforted she was by “The Great Comforter” throughout her life and in her last days. She would often recite Psalm 23 when things were challenging, and it is now something that we can hold onto.

We found Isaiah 58:6 underlined in Mom’s Bible. This verse calls us to share our food with the hungry and not to turn away. Mom had written this notation beside the verse: “This is what God wants us to do for others”. Mom took this verse to heart and up until the end of her years gave back to the community near and far. Throughout her life, she gave her time and resources to people and the church. In her later years, she made hundreds of toques, scarves and quilts for teen mothers, babies in the NICU, and those living with mental illness in White Rock. When she heard of a need, she was ready with her needle and thread.

Mom loved to sew and made quilts for everyone in the family. This brought her so much joy. We are wrapped in her love.

A life of love and giving is our Mom’s legacy.