With the heaviest hearts, we share the passing of our beloved mother, Edith Mae Doherty (nee Bell), fondly known as 'Edie' to family and 'Nana' to her eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She passed away peacefully on May 31st, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. Although she jokingly asked that we keep her out of the papers, her life was too special not to share with those who knew and cared about her. We hope you'll forgive us, Mum!
Born on June 26th, 1934, in Fielding, New Brunswick, our mother lived a beautiful life for 88 years, with 58 of those years spent with her husband and best friend, Sonny, by her side. She started her career as a teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in Wicklow, New Brunswick, before moving to Elliot Lake, Ontario, where she taught grade two at Central Avenue Public School. She spent 64 years in Elliot Lake, building a wonderful life with our dad, creating lifelong friendships, and raising three spirited children.
Our parents were inseparable, enjoying everything from watching Y&R and curling, travelling all over Canada, spending their retirement in Florida, and 30 years of delivering Meals on Wheels together. The years after our dad passed away were difficult for our mother, but we find solace knowing they are now reunited and enjoying all their favourite pastimes once again.
Our mother cherished her four siblings (Albert, Anna, Donnie and Charley) and made it a priority to visit her New Brunswick family every summer. We fondly remember the 18-hour trips, with her constantly knitting, the one can of Pringles for five people, country music playing on the 8-track and her famous Quebec rest-stop picnics that always included at least two kinds of cookies and homemade buns for sandwiches. She and Dad drove that highway to NB for as long as they could. In September, we will bring them home to rest together for the last time.
Friends and neighbours will remember Mum's cheerful wave from her flower-filled porch, her love of quilting, the cakes and meat pies she would happily make for anyone who asked and her years of dedication to the St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary, United Church Women, CNIB, Scouts Canada, and Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Campaigns.
She was a wonderful mother, sister, aunt, and Nana. We already miss everything about her, from her good morning and goodnight phone calls, her fondness for wild roses and black licorice, the comforting scent of her Gloria Vanderbilt perfume, her delicious donuts, her constant apron-wearing, the seven cookie jars she kept full, her love for playing cards and dickidee-doo, and most importantly, her unwavering positive spirit and unconditional love for all of us.
Our mother lived a remarkable life filled with kindness, generosity, and purpose and was loved by all who knew her. She often said she was the richest woman in the world, not because of the money she had, but because her family was priceless.
Heidi, by Johanna Spyri, was our mother's favourite book, and in it, she wrote, "The happiest thing is when an old friend greets us as before, comforting the heart with the belief that everything we love will be returned someday." This quote perfectly describes the comfort we felt in our mother's final days as she spoke of cherished friends who visited her in her thoughts and our firm belief that our father was off in the corner patiently waiting for her.
During her final year, our mother received exceptional care from the staff and medical professionals at The Villa Retirement Lodge in Midland, ON - our family is forever thankful for their dedication and compassion.
Instead of flowers, we kindly suggest donating to the Alzheimer Society of Canada in her honour at www.support.alzheimer.ca
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