A kind, generous and loving lady, Doreen Fell, passed quietly in Salmon Arm on February 13, 2013 with her children beside her. Doreen was born on August 14, 1932 in Blackpool, England and was the last living child of her parents, Ethel (Stephens) Dallow and Douglas Dallow. Both of Doreen’s parents had passed by the time she was nine years old and she was raised by various relatives in England before deciding to venture off to Canada in April of 1953 to pursue a new life in a new country.
Shortly after arriving in Canada, Doreen met and married Harold Fell in Fort St. John, B.C. and together they raised three children while running a lumber business there. They retired to their much loved Salmon Arm in 1981, where Doreen became involved in numerous community activities, charities and artistic endeavours. She volunteered at the Interfaith Thrift Store, helped yearly at the fall fair, made articles of clothing for Grandmothers to Grandmothers, greeted worshipers weekly at the Untied Church and helped wherever she could with a number of different groups and causes over the years. Doreen was an active member of the quilters guild and has left behind numerous quilted treasures for her family and friends to admire and cherish for years to come. In the past few years, Doreen enjoyed taking part in her osteofit classes, where she developed even more new friendships. Doreen also had a passion for growing things and rarely, if ever, could you visit her home and not find at least one of her many orchids in bloom.
Doreen was a humble and giving person who had the gift of making her friends, family and acquaintances feel richer for having known her. She leaves behind her children, Mike, Craig and Heather (Laurier) Blanchette; her grandchildren, Brett (Laura) and Chelsea Blanchette and Alesha Fell and Karlene (Rodney) Purvis; four great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Shirley; life-long friend and ‘fellow Brit’, Dorothy Aalhus and many, many other friends and extended family.
In addition to her parents, Doreen was predeceased by her husband Harold in 2006 and her brother Gerald in 1991. Doreen’s older brother, Douglas, died in infancy in 1932.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors and nursing staff of the Shuswap Lake General Hospital who took such good care of Doreen in her final days. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the many friends who came to visit her during that time. We are truly humbled at the profound difference our mother, grandmother and great grandmother made in the lives of so many.
A memorial service took place in Salmon Arm at the First United Church, Salmon Arm on Monday, February 18, 2013. Doreen’s ashes are interred in the Mount Ida Cemetery beside those of her husband, Harold.
Doreen has asked that anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory please do so to the Shuswap Hospital Foundation, Box 265, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4N3. (www.shuswaphospitalfoundation.org).
Online condolences can be sent through Doreen’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Arrangements are in the care of Bowers Funeral Home, Salmon Arm.