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Doreen Meota Calvert Obituary check_circle

It is with great sadness that the family of Doreen Calvert announce the passing of a life well lived. Doreen passed away peacefully at Rose Villa in Rosetown, SK. on January 26, 2017 at the age of 95.

Doreen was born in Rosetown, SK. on July 2, 1921 and baptised Doreen Meota Dexter. This happened nine months after her parents, Ralph and Arlene Dexter had honeymooned in Meota, SK. at Jackfish Lake. Doreen always said (I sure am glad they didn’t go to Niagara Falls!)

Doreen spent most of her childhood on a farm near Anglia SK. beside Eagle Creek. These times were fondly remembered: helping with the sheep, chickens and other animals, swimming and rafting in the creek in summer and skating in winter with her sister Lucy, cousins and friends. She and Lucy walked to school and back each day and would get a few days off when the creek flooded in the spring.

Caring for the sheep instilled in her kind and gentle ways which she carried on throughout her life. She was always ready to care for and love any critter, human or plant that needed help. Whoever or whatever she felt responsible for received the best of care she could give. The robin nesting on her balcony preferred raisins for a treat; the plants preferred rain water and even at 90 plus years old, if you were careful, you could carry four one-gallon jugs balanced on your walker from the rain barrel across the parking lot, up the elevator and to your many plants growing at the condo.

Doreen completed high-school in Anglia and then went to business college in Moose Jaw, SK. She married Arthur Calvert in 1942. They owned and managed a general store and fuel business in Anglia until 1948 when they purchased their first farm land. Daughter Connie was born in 1949 and son Chris in 1953. In 1953 they moved to the Ridpath district to farm the Ralph Dexter land. Doreen had been a member of the Ridpath Ladies Club since 1953. Her husband, Art passed away in 1973.

In 1982, Doreen moved to Rosetown to stay with her mother and father to assist with their care. Ralph Dexter passed away in 1975 and Arlene Dexter remarried Bill Ritchie in 1982; Doreen continued caring for both of them until 1996 when Arlene passed. At that time Doreen moved into a condo at Stewart Manor where she spent almost twenty years.

In June of 2015, Doreen moved to Orange Memoires Care Home in Rosetown where she spent an enjoyable year and a half. She loved all the attention from the staff and their kind and gentle ways. She would have loved to stay forever.

Doreen always had a passion for art and creative projects, her main focus in retirement was the Rosetown and District Arts Club. She took part in art classes and art shows and was president of the arts club for many years. Doreen’s artwork is on display in many places. She received the Volunteer Recognition Award from the Wild Goose Recreation Association in 2003 for her work with the Arts Council. Doreen was the guest artist in the Rosetown Art Show in 2007.

Doreen also loved quilting; the elevator quilt she designed and made was chosen as one of the eight finalists in the Great Saskatchewan Quilt Competition held in 1986. Those eight quilts toured across Canada that year.
Doreen was an avid gardener, both on the farm and later in Rosetown. Her garden produced many different vegetables and she always included flowers in abundance. The garden was a delight to her grandchildren, Jason and Lisa, who loved to pick and eat fresh strawberries. They soon learned that nothing compared to homegrown.

Doreen is survived by her daughter Connie Calvert; son Chris (Barbara) Calvert; grandchildren Jason (Caitlin) Calvert and Lisa (Andrew) Gerla as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Art in 1973, father Ralph Dexter in 1975, mother Arlene Dexter in 1996 and sister Lucy Crawford in 2013.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Rosetown United Church with Reverend Jo-Ann Hills officiating. Interment to follow at Rosetown Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Orange Memories Care Home, P.O. Box 1900, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0 or Rosetown & District Health Centre Foundation (Rose Villa Activity Fund), P.O. Box 850, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0.