Doreen Fewster (nee Watson)

Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Doreen Fewster on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at the age of 96, at Bethesda Place, Steinbach, MB. With her daughters beside her, singing her favourite hymn, Doreen took her final breath and went home to be with her Lord and to be rejoined with her husband, Wendal on what would have been his 95th birthday.

She is survived by her daughter Shirley Pipke (Bill), son Garth Fewster (Diane), and daughter Marsha Murray (Clinton), grandchildren Colleen Dyck (Grant), Ella Rempel (Roger), Daniel Fewster (Nigel), Kyla Murray (Nathan), Brad Murray (Naomi), Sam Murray (Niki) and Brittany Houston, great grandchildren Georgia, Oskar, Leo and Moses Dyck, Charlie, Remi and Nina Rempel, Boaz, Hildi and Willow Fewster, Sierra, Barrett and Phoenix Murray, Jackson, Avery and Lincoln Murray and Torez Lawson.

She was predeceased by her husband Wendal, son Rick and daughter-in-law Debbie, as well as by all four of her siblings, brothers Les, Andy and Lyle Watson and her sister and best friend, Frances Sargeant.

Mom was born to Stan and Alice Watson at her grandparents’ home in Rathwell, MB. She completed her high school education in Rathwell and went on to Normal School to get her teacher’s certificate. She often talked about her first teaching assignment at East Treherne School where she taught in a one room school house, wondering how on earth she managed to keep order when some of the teenage boys towered over her and how thankful she was that they were all respectful and obedient students and behaved well for their tiny little teacher. She moved on to teach in Starbuck and taught grades one and two there. This was her favourite age to teach and she had fond memories of her time there. It was while teaching in Starbuck that she met a certain young farmer from Sperling at a dance. She always said Dad duped her into believing that he liked to dance and had she known he didn’t like to, she might have had second thoughts about accepting a date with him, because she adored dancing. We all have fond memories of Mom dancing her way through the house and watching her with her siblings at family weddings getting out on the dance floor to do a Red River jig or a polka – nobody could cut a rug like the Watson kids!

Mom continued to substitute teach after marrying Dad in 1951, but spent most of her time caring for her family and helping run the farm with Dad. Once her kids were grown she decided it was time for a new adventure and she got a job at The Valley Leader as a proofreader. She loved working there and was really good at her job. We had many people tell us they never found a typo, spelling or grammar error in that paper the entire time she worked there – she had an eagle eye and never let the paper go to press till she had combed every article and ad and corrected every mistake.

Mom was an active member of the community and could be counted on to help with whatever needed doing. She sat on many boards throughout the years and was proud of her contributions to the Snappy Stitchers, making Sperling Bears to help fund the new rink. If you have a Sperling Bear, chances are the ribbon it wears was tied by her hands.

Her favourite place to be was at the family cabin on Big Whiteshell. Her love of nature was deep and she could tell you the name of every tree, wild flower and bird. She spent countless hours out on the deck, just watching the birds fly over and listening to the waves lap on the shore below.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was so proud of all of her family and made sure we all knew it. Mom was one of the kindest, most generous people we’ve ever known and will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

We would like to thank the staff at Bethesda Place, Mom’s home for the past three years. We are forever grateful for the wonderful care you gave her. She loved every one of you and told us every time we visited how wonderful you all are and how thankful she was for everything you did for her.

The memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

Cremation has taken place and a private interment will be held at Sperling Cemetery at a later date.

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