DOREEN JUNE STEVENSON (BURDEY) (DODI)

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DOREEN JUNE STEVENSON
(nee BURDEY)

Doreen (Dodi) was born June 4, 1937 and grew up with her mother Olga (Ollie), in the busy, Ukrainian immigrant home of her grandparents Stephano and Xenia Bordej in the village of Brooklands; always surrounded by family but none more important than her favourite Uncles, Nick and Wally, and Auntie Shirley.
At age 15, Dodi got her first and only job at Continental Can Packaging where she worked alongside Ollie for many years, retiring after 50 years of service. She married John (Jake) Stevenson at a young age and April and Darren soon followed. With Ollie in tow, they rented in Blake Gardens in Weston. Dodi would call Weston home for the rest of her life and rarely ventured outside its borders. She shopped at Cantor's Meats where Joe, Oscar, and Ed always made her feel welcome and supported. Dodi was a proud member of the Brooklands Weston Legion where she spent her time socializing and playing shuffleboard and Bingo. If not at "the Legion", Dodi could be found "playing the horses" at Assiniboine Downs or happiest shooting the breeze over a cup of coffee with her "Sals gang" at Salisbury House.
Dodi's home was always filled with a host of strays; (both of the two-legged and four-legged varieties); always sparing a bed, or a meal, even for months at a time. Her home was always bustling. After a lifetime of renting, Dodi was proudest to eventually own a home in Weston and thoroughly enjoyed strolling the sidewalks with her dog in tow. The rest of the family soon followed suit, at one point all residing on the same street.
Dodi's house was the foundation from which all family memories stemmed. Even though Darren (son), Diane (her favourite daughter-in-law), Morgan and Brock (grandchildren) moved away from Weston, it always felt like home. Morgan and Brock will always cherish the memories of playing on the old-wooden play structure, walking to McDonald's, getting candy from the corner store, and jumping on Grandma's waterbed. Holidays, birthdays, or Sunday dinners were spent crammed together in the "dining room" and later spent in the basement where a double bed somehow became a part of the seating arrangement. Christmas dinner was always turkey, gravy, Stove Top stuffing (which almost no one ever ate), meatballs and gravy and sweet and sour meatballs (always well done), cabbage rolls, homemade coleslaw, and the "Soggy Salad". Afterward we'd share dainties, wondrous games of Rummoli ("Where are my pennies?"), Shirley Turnovers, and laughing until tears formed. Dodi's two best friends, Violet and Eileen, whom she loved like sisters, were constants at many of these wonderful dinners. Over the years, countless conversations, laughs, and tears would be shared over a hot cup of tea.
In her later years, Dodi thrived in her little routines. She would spend most of her time venturing to the Brooklands and Canadiana to "hit the machines", getting her hair done, bowling at Billy Mosienko Lanes, visiting with family, friends, and neighbours, checking in on April (daughter) and Johnny Slusarenko (her favourite son-in-law) and their dog, driving to pay bills or get groceries, going to McDonald's for coffee and fries, and, of course, countless hours spent at Sals and the Legion. Everywhere she went, she would find a way to make a friend and lived for the innocent chatter between strangers.
In the winter of 2021, Dodi was struck by a truck resulting in life-changing injuries. The resulting trauma plunged her into the throes of dementia. Even though removed from any concept of time, devoid of any new memories and rapidly fading old ones, she was very happy when she transitioned to Holy Family Home. For visitors, it might have felt like Ground Hog Day but to Dodi, every story was met with surprise and genuine happiness. The familiar sounds of Ukrainian accents and the smells of traditional Ukrainian food harkened her back to her days in Brooklands. In her new home, with her favourite time of year approaching, she spent her last remaining days listening to Christmas carols and the words of love from her family. And, in the early hours of December 26, 2022, a woman who worked 50 years in a box factory willed herself fittingly to peacefully pass on Boxing Day. Now those Eaton, SAANS, and Sears boxes we open on Christmas Day will fondly be remembered as her everlasting Christmas gift to us all.
A special thank you and God Bless to everyone at Holy Family Home. The smiles behind the masks offered during these challenging times will never be forgotten. Dodi was truly happy and treated with the utmost respect, care, and dignity. In her memory, donations to Holy Family or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your well wishes, expressions of condolences, and shared happy memories.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 14, 2023