Obituary
Evelyn Dowbiggin (nee Driscoll) died on Thursday May 18, 2017, six hours after a fall outside her residence in Edmonton. Her daughter Claire and granddaughter Regan were chatting with her in an Emergency Room Cubicle when she suddenly died from her injuries.
Evelyn was born and raised in Manotick, a suburb of Ottawa. She was the first born of nine children. Shortly after she moved to Ottawa from the family farm and completed a Secretarial Course, she found work in the Senate. She met Wilfred Dowbiggin and married him in 1942. After the war they moved to Winnipeg where their three children were born and raised. Whenever the Manitoba Government was in session, Evelyn worked there. In 1962 she was recruited to work in the Court of Appeal to fill a one-year position as Judges’ Secretary. That position ended up being a 27 year career, from which Evelyn retired in 1989. After suffering a stroke at her Winnipeg condo in 2007, she moved to Edmonton to be closer to her daughter Claire, and her family.
During that decade, Evelyn was present for the birth of four of her great grandchildren. She enjoyed our frequent celebrations around birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and family reunions. Her life was rich and full; Claire appreciated the close friendship that developed between them.
Evelyn’s charm, wit, sense of humour, and penchant for practical jokes, combined with her positive attitude, attracted a wide age-range of friends. Counted among them were the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation Xers and Millenials as well as a few contemporaries. She was known for her quaint sayings, a reflection of her Irish roots and the Ottawa Valley culture in which she was raised.
Evelyn’s life was devoted to living out gospel values. She was faithful to her Catholic roots until the end, even attending Easter Sunday Mass last month at 98 years of age. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Norbert Church, 70 St. Pierre Street, Winnipeg, on June 24, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. David Brabant presiding. Lunch, socializing and sharing of memories to which everyone is invited will follow in the church basement. Evelyn’s ashes will be interred beside her husband in the St. Norbert Cemetery.
Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Wilfred, her treasured companion of 59 years. Evelyn is survived by one sibling, Allan in Manotick, and her three children, Neil (Debbie) and their four children Shelley, Scott, Lani and Cory; Dwight (Mary) and their two children Kelly and Shannon; Claire (Leo) and their two children Regan and Brendan. Evelyn also leaves 12 great grandchildren, as well as a host of life-long friendships she maintained in various parts of Canada.
We, Evelyn’s family, acknowledge with gratitude and humility the outpouring of affection from so many of her friends and loved ones across the country. Your kind words will be remembered and will continue to be a source of comfort in the years ahead.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations, in Evelyn’s name, may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, which was a favourite charity of hers and the last place where Evelyn volunteered as recently as two years ago.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Evelyn Dowbiggin.source
avis deces Evelyn Dowbiggin- avis mortuaire Evelyn Dowbiggin