Obituaries

Doris Yelle was gathered into the arms of the Lord on August 24, 2019 at the age of 88.
She had a kind, loving spirit and a strong faith right to the very end. She had been struggling with anxiety and depression followed by dementia/Alzheimer’s for the last few years.
She was born at home in a three-room log house eight km south of Melville, Saskatchewan on February 19, 1931. Her two younger brothers, Roland and James, were also born at this home.
Her parents got married in 1930 just as the Great Depression was starting. Life on the farm was very hard. There was no running water or electricity and farmers went through a series of crop failures due to droughts and infestations. The family farmed several crops such as wheat, oats, barley and rye and raised animals and fowl such as cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys for their own consumption. Eggs and cream were sold in town for income.
In 1938, at the age of 8 she started school at Pearl Creek country school about three km from home.
In 1941, her dad headed East by train searching for better opportunities to raise his children. He then sent money back home for her mom to bring the family by train to Temiskaming, Quebec.
The family was only there two days when a fire burnt down the rental home they were staying at. They lost everything including $200 of family savings. She attended an English public school in Temiskaming and grew up fast as she looked after her two younger brothers as her parents worked long hours.
In 1945, they returned to Melville and moved into town. She attended St. Henry’s High School where she graduated in 1949.
In 1950, she entered the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Humboldt Saskatchewan. She graduated from the three-year program in 1953.
In 1953, she moved back to Melville and started her nursing career at St. Peter’s Hospital. Soon after starting her new job, the polio epidemic broke out. She met a polio patient named Leo Yelle who was recovering from a throat infection at the time. As fate would have it, he became the love of her life.
Doris and Leo where married in Melville on June 27, 1957.
In 1957, they relocated to Kitimat, BC where she worked shift work at the general hospital. Trying to align work schedules with Leo, she transferred to the Alcan property department but later returned to the medical field as the Alcan industrial nurse.
While in Kitimat they had their first two children, Laurette in 1959 and Blaine in 1961.
In 1964, their next move was to Richmond, BC where they added their final child Kevin. After Kevin was born, she dedicated her life to raising her family with much love, kindness, compassion and support. She provided an excellent example of true love and caring.
In 1965, their next move was to Vancouver, BC where they rented a house and dreamed of owning a home of their own.
In 1967, Leo and Doris designed and built their dream home in Vancouver. They called it their Centennial Project and they remained in this house for 27 years. Leo did all the heavy building while Doris painted the entire house inside and outside. It was a labor of love and rewarding experience.
In 1994, their final move was to White Rock, BC. where they enjoyed their retirement years.
She enjoyed nature and the numerous family camping and fishing trips. She enjoyed travelling abroad with her family and later with her husband. Her hobbies included knitting, cross-stitching, bowling, gardening, cooking and baking.
Her Catholic faith was an essential part of her life and was an on-going source of strength.
She was blessed with two granddaughters Briana and Halie which she cherished.
She was predeceased by her father Peter, mother Alvina, brother James, and loving husband Leo.
She is survived by her daughter Laurette (Yoshi), son Blaine, son Kevin (Nelia) and granddaughters Briana and Halie, brother Roland (Donna), and many cousins, nieces, nephews and other family members.