Doreen Griffin

With family at her side, Doreen Griffin (Steppling), passed away peacefully at age 88, on July 21st, 2024. Predeceased by her husband Floyd ‘Joe’ (June 28th, 2014), and infant sister Josephine (1935), Doreen is survived by three children: son, Gary Griffin and his son Phoenix; daughter, Bev Pennington (Randy Mellquist) and children: Skylar (Ben) Larson -- Emilya, Avery, Rylan; Spencer (Misty) Pennington -- Sadie, Barrette, Lux; daughter Gaileen (Wade) Blackwell and daughters: Ariel Blackwell (Ryan Fishley) -- Aislynn; Fallon Blackwell (Carson Rood); sisters Maryann (Nick dec’d) Yorga and Caroline (John) Steele, numerous nieces and nephews.

Doreen was born May 10th, 1936 in Rockglen to John and Rose Steppling. She was the middle child of three girls. She grew up during a time of great change and faced many challenges with grace and resilience. She married the love of her life, Joe, on April 28th, 1960 and together they built a beautiful life raising three children, Gary, Bev and Gaileen, and enjoyed five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Doreen was a dedicated wife and mother, passionate about her career in homecare and volunteering with the Catholic Church. Her faith was very important to her. She curled, winning many awards and trophies, and loved playing bingo, having coffee with her friends, teaching her grandchildren to crochet, canning and pickling vegetables from her garden – a skill she passed down to her grandkids. Doreen also enjoyed sharing stories with her grandkids, playing cards, walking in the garden and she also loved nature, finding joy in the beauty of the world around her.

“Grandma taught us the importance of family, hard work, and compassion. She made the simplest moments extraordinary; her wisdom was profound. She had a way of sharing it with us that we often did not realize we were learning life’s most valuable lessons until much later. Grandma, you will be deeply missed but your spirit will live on in each of us. Thank you for the love, the lessons and the memories. We will cherish them forever.”

Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, July 26th, 2024 at 11:00 am in St. George’s Roman Catholic Church, Assiniboia, SK. Father George Thattuparampil celebrant. Pallbearers: Spencer Pennington, Ben Larson, Ryan Fishley, Carson Rood, Phoenix Griffin, Randy Mellquist. Lunch and fellowship followed in St. George’s R.C. Parish Hall. Interment at St. John’s R.C. Cemetery, Rockglen, SK. Donations in Memory of Doreen may be made to the Rockglen Memorial Orchard, c/o Town of Rockglen. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Griffin family may be shared at www.rossfuneralservice.com. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK 306-642-3373