Just after midnight last Tuesday, April 25, at Crossroads Inlet Hospice, our lovely mom Doreen lost her long battle with lung disease, closing her beautiful blue eyes for the last time. Mom’s health had been precarious for some time, and after a long stay early this year at Eagle Ridge Hospital, she moved to Crossroads Hospice in early April. Over the past weeks and days, she was surrounded with love. We are grateful to the many family and friends who lifted mom’s spirits through their calls, visits, and cards; not a day went by that she didn’t have someone by her side.

Born Doreen Rose Stephens in New Westminster in 1942, a descendant of the first Maillardville pioneers, mom grew up with her brothers in a boisterous Irish-French Canadian family, living in Maillardville and Burnaby before making her home in Coquitlam, first in a big house on Regan Avenue, and later in her tidy and well-appointed condo at Marlborough House, of which she was so proud.

Lively and independent, our mom liked everything to be “just so”, and was always up for a bit of fun. She was devoted and loyal to her family and her many dear friends, and loved to entertain, hosting countless parties, dinners and events. Her adventurous spirit took her on many trips over the years, river rafting in BC, cruising to Alaska and Mexico, wine touring in California, road-tripping in Cabo San Lucas, as well as jaunts to Disneyland and Las Vegas with her daughters. She was an avid reader and scrabble player, and loved a night at the movies, or a quiet night in watching her shows. As her health declined, what she missed most was dinner out with her circle of friends.

Mom truly made a difference through her quiet perseverance and generosity, and worked hard at everything she did, from her first job at 16 as a bank teller, to her last job as a highly valued office assistant, and everything in between. She offered her time, talents and resources to help out in whatever way she could. She was notable for her charitable work over the years, from the dozens toques and scarves she knit for the downtown eastside, to the hundreds of beautiful gift baskets she created to raise funds for her church. She will be forever remembered as the Jam Lady for the endless jars of delicious jellies, jams and preserves she made every year for bake sales and craft fairs.

An active parishioner at St Laurence Church for over 40 years, Mom was nominated as a member of the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster in 2014. Her family and friends watched with great pride as she was invested as a member by the bishop in recognition of her decades of service.

Doreen is loved and missed by her daughters: Tammy Ellis and husband Tom; Laurie Barclay and husband Doug Hulme; Susan Barclay and partner Warren Lang. Also missed by her much loved grandchildren Reid Ellis, Quin Ellis and Clayton Hulme. Doreen will also be missed by her aunt Lillian Dicaire Nicklen, brothers Ron Stephens (Margaret) and Bob, their families, and her many close friends.

We are thankful to the many doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers at Eagle Ridge Hospital and Crossroads Inlet Hospice who provided our mom with such compassionate care over the past months. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Crossroads Hospice Society gratefully welcomed.

Please join us at 2 pm on Sunday, May 7 at St Laurence Church, 825 St Laurence St, Coquitlam BC as we remember our mom and celebrate her life.