It is with bittersweet sorrow that the family of Mrs. Doreine Kulpa announce her passing on Monday, December 26, 2022.

Doreine was born in Hafford, Sk., November 26, 1929, to Rosario and Anne Desmarais.  She passed away in BUH one month after her 93rd birthday.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St Joseph Calasanctius Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford with Rev. Fr. Phinh Do as celebrant.  Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Doreine is predeceased by her loving husband, Frank Kulpa (2004); first husband, Warren Miller (2001); parents: Anne (Hotzak) (1972) and Rosario Desmarais (1974); brothers: Donald (1964), Dorell (1982), Dorio (2004); sisters: Dorette Guy (2015), Delore (Sister Ann Rosario) (2014); sons-in-law: Douglas MacDonald (2005), Peter Krawetz (2014).

Her memory will be forever cherished by her surviving children and their families: Eva (Mark) Sabir, their children: Tahra Sabir (Glen Olexson),  Shamma (Lars Bjornson), Sarah (Brett Beaulieu), Roxanna (Greg Schneider), Laila (Mark Sullivan); Brenda Krawetz her children: Michael (Michelle) Krawetz, Stacey Krawetz, Kayla (Justin Vany); Delbert (Sheila) Miller their children: Kristy (Jeron Stotz), Janine (Rick Zipchen), Jodi Miller; Carol MacDonald, her children: Michael (Aly) MacDonald, Danielle, Andrea, Kaitlin (Nick Sakhon); Allan (Gwen) Miller their children: Dawn (Charles White), Ian (Melissa), Jesse (Michelle);  Alden (Lorna) Miller, Adam (Jenna), Teresa; Susan (Reynold) Striga their children: Juanita, Ryan (Jordain), David; numerous great–grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Mrs. Doreine Kulpa can be directed to the BUH Foundation – Designated to the Palliative Care Unit or the Church Masses.

Condolences for the family can be made at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium – Trevor Watts Funeral Director.

 

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Obituary for Doreine Kulpa

On November 26, 1929, Doreine was born third in a family of 6 children to Ann and Rosario Desmarais at Hafford, Sask. She was a younger sister to Donald and Dorette, and an older sister to Dorio, Dorell, and Delore.  She left home as a teenager to become a nanny in Prince Albert. She later moved to North Battleford where she worked as a pastry cook at Notre Dame Hospital, which is now known as Battlefords Union Hospital. It was during this time that she was set up on a blind date with Warren Miller. They married and moved to Clearwater BC. While in BC, 6 of 7 children were born, Eva, Brenda, Delbert, Carol and twins Allan and Alden.

In 1964 the family relocated back to Saskatchewan. A couple years after this move, their youngest child, Susan, was born. Doreine separated from Grandpa Warren in 1969 and moved to Hafford. Here she raised 7 children as well as cared for her father, until his passing in 1974.

Doreine moved to North Battleford during the early-mid 1970’s where she managed a children’s group home. It was during this time that she met Frank Kulpa.  Apparently, there was a little bit of match making done at this time.  As the story goes, Delbert, and Brenda’s husband, Peter, were putting water and sewer into Frank’s house.

Someone thought perhaps Frank would be a good match for her, so Frank received an invitation to Delbert and Sheila’s wedding in 1977.  And as the saying goes… “the rest is history”.

She married Frank in 1978. She and Susan moved with Frank to the farm at Mayfair.

Doreine continued to work at the group homes for several years after their marriage. When she quit working away from home, she loved her time at the farm gardening, tending the cattle and chickens and farming. She enjoyed harvest and loved running the combine! Doreine and Frank enjoyed raising exotic birds. They had beautiful peacocks, and pheasants of brilliant colors. Doreine cherished her farm life with Frank.

They enjoyed having company, and spending time with family and friends. Not many days would pass that there wasn’t company at the Kulpa house whether it be morning coffee, afternoon visits along with many a game of kaiser. They spent many an afternoon and into the evening with family and friends at Sandy Lake. Doreine would most always bring a picnic lunch to share.

Doreine and Frank were very fortunate to have been able to travel to different destinations. They traveled to Las Vegas, Hawaii and Alaska cruises together with family and friends. After Frank’s passing, she continued to travel with family to places such as Ireland, Greece, Egypt, and Las Vegas.  She said she even rode a camel!  You will see some pictures of her travels later during lunch when we will have a slideshow presentation.

Doreine had a very strong faith and was very devoted to her church and church family.  She was very involved in supporting the church in whatever way she could, whether it was with the CWL preparing a community supper, or a funeral lunch, she was always there as long as her health allowed.  Even up until she was about 89 years old we would hear her say she went and picked up “so and so” and took them shopping, or took them to mass or an appointment.  As long as she COULD, she DID!

Over the years, Doreine spent many hours sewing and mending.  Likely what started out as necessity, creating beautiful outfits for her children, eventually became a hobby.  We are sure every family member owns something that she has mended, whether it be patches on a pair of jeans or coveralls, a zipper in a jacket, or a hemmed pair of pants. Doreine especially enjoyed mending. When a grandson came for a short stay, she snuck in and with great pride quickly mended his ripped jeans. He later emerged wearing the newly patched jeans in great dismay as he had just purchased this very expensive and “in style” pair of jeans!  In later years her creativity was evident in the “hand towels” that many of us have buttoned up on our oven or dishwasher handles, and then the hooded bath/beach towels that she created for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  These are treasures that we will forever cherish.

When Frank’s health began to fail, they felt it best to move to North Battleford, where they resided at Davidson Manor until Frank’s passing in 2004.  Following Frank’s passing, it became evident that she needed to leave the farm to avoid muddy roads and winter driving, not to mention all the grass cutting and maintaining a large yard. We are sure it was not an easy decision to make. It was at this time she made the decision to leave the farm and bought a house in North Battleford, where she lived until her passing.

Some fun facts:

* When Doreine took her drivers road test, she had several of the young children with her. Apparently, the children were loud and unrulily causing the examiner to become frustrated with the situation. He had Doreine do the very minimum and gave her her license to basically send her and her children on their way…

* The grandchildren will recall the many Christmas’s at the farm when Doreine got dressed up in her red housecoat and acted as Santa. She had a very quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor.

* At one point when she was in ICU she got up off of the bed and realized that her hospital gown was flapping, she commented “now I know how ICU got it’s name, I see you”.

* One day Juanita gave Doreine an energy drink and after consuming the drink they read the warning label. In true Doreine fashion she pretends to have a heart attack. Doreine thought

that was priceless.

* One day while discussing different delicacies, Doreine was asked if she would ever eat an eyeball. She said “no, because she was scared it would be looking up at her when she went to the bathroom”.

* One day within the last month while Doreine appeared to be totally asleep, Juanita was studying’ when all of a sudden Doreine says “Boo” and scared the bejeebees out of Juanita.

These few examples show her sense of humor and wittiness remained with her right up to the last few days in the hospital. As she aged, her one wish was to remain in her own home, and she was lucky enough to be able to do just that.  She was never one to complain, right up till her last few days, whenever she was asked how she was doing, her normal response was “all good here” or “can’t complain”. She was admitted to hospital just two days before her 93rd birthday and passed away peacefully exactly one month to the day following her 93rd birthday.

• Date : 2022-12-28
• Location : North Battleford, SK