Doreen Agnes Barth

Doreen Agnes Barth, late of Pangman, SK passed away on November 16, 2018 at the age of 86 years.

Doreen was predeceased by her parents Harold and Olivia Stewart; mother and father-in-law Katherina and Steve Barth; brothers and sisters-in-law: Dale Boren, Rose Thompson, George Barth, Irene (Roy) Gordon, Rudy (Maureen) Barth, Lyle Johnson, Lawrence Barth (in infancy), Loretta (Tom) Merritt, Harvey Barth, Steve Barth; and special friend Siobhan O’Kelly.

Doreen is survived by her loving husband of 65 years Harold Barth; children: Arnie (Carol) Barth, Terry (Shelley) Barth and family: Ashley (Beau) Mitchell and [Noah, Duncan, Everett], Kristian Barth (Taylor), Arlene (Doug) Lewgood and family: Trevor (Lisa) Lewgood and [Sadey, Jarron], Christy (Willard) Johnson and [Dalton]; Darcy Barth; sisters: Ruth Boren and family, Dorothy (Wayne) Marion; brother Gordon (Marie) Stewart and family; sister-in-law Ady Johnson and family; brother-in-law Walter (Vera) Barth and family; special friends: Myrt Lillejord, Louise and Barry Kessler. 

"Tomorrow Isn’t Ours" This is a quote that was very special to Doreen, often used by her good friend Ms. O’Kelly, and the sentiment is certainly appropriate here today. 

Doreen was daughter to Olivia & Harold Stewart; and oldest sister to Ruth, Dorothy & Gordon. Growing up on a farm near Amulet, Doreen, or ‘Toots’ as her parent’s called her, attended school and helped out around the family farm.  In her spare time, Doreen had a love for singing and playing guitar, perhaps taking after her Dad who often played his violin or accordion for the family.  This love of music remained constant throughout her life.

After leaving school, she worked for a few families around Amulet & Ogema and later became a Nurses Aid working in the Pangman Hospital.  She worked in this capacity and additionally as a Lab & Xray Technician for the remainder of her career that spanned over thirty years. 

Doreen’s early love of music left an impression with her entire family and sister Dorothy remembers fondly, the times she would pick up the guitar and start to sing, while sitting in the front door of the living room.  Dorothy would often be moved to tears because it was so beautiful and she remembers the song “Whispering Hope’ as one of her favorites.   This joy of performing prompted Doreen to sing in many local Amateur Nights held in the area. 

Rumor has it that this is where she caught the eye of a certain bachelor, Harold Barth.  But according to Harold, she first tried to capture his attention at a gathering at a friend’s house when she was only 12 years old. Harold also remembers well,  that this night,  he too thought to himself, ‘she is the lady for me’…

Some years later, he finally got the courage to ask her out on their first date,  where they travelled to Ceylon to attend a carnival.  Things apparently went very well and a few years later, they were wed.

This past June 12th, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and it was obvious to see that there was still the same love in their hearts for one another.  This was a wonderful love story.  

Aunt Doreen’s life centered around her family and this was where she was happiest.  Memories of the large family gatherings at their home always focused around the kitchen, where Aunt Doreen would create amazing meals and where ‘going back for seconds’ was more than appropriate, it was expected. 

When speaking to any member of her family,  the first thing that was mentioned was their favorite meal or favorite baking that Aunt Doreen had created.   “Her amazing homemade strudel, her shortbread cookies or her fudge”; “her skinny pancakes”  or her “popcorn balls” were all highlights over the years, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention her famous macaroni salad, that is still raved about to this day.  No-one could ever replicate it, many tried, yet Aunt Doreen never revealed her secret recipe.

Another memory that came up time and again from the entire family, was how Aunt Doreen was quite a worrier.  She kept her eye on the weather report for looming storms, and was never comfortable travelling far distances, especially after dark. She would certainly always have her foot on the ‘brake’ in her passenger side seat,  whenever they were on the road.  Granddaughter Christy recalls a family trip to Minot one year for Easter when the weather took a turn for the worse and they found themselves in the middle of a snowstorm,  returning home.  The roads were so terrible that they had to get Doreen to crouch down near the floorboards in an effort to calm her so they could make it home.  What an adventure. 

It may come as a surprise then, that in her youth, she was the one behind the ‘wheel’ so to speak of the Horse & Buggy as she got herself & sister Ruth to school.  Our Mom, Ruth remembers a time when coming home she was too scared to go down a steep hill and while Doreen was still driving the horse, Mom jumped off the moving buggy, screaming all the way down into the ditch.  Aunt Doreen took it all in stride, calmed her down and got them home safe and sound.  

Perhaps to avoid all the worrying, Doreen never was a big traveler. Staying close to home and entertaining friends and family was much more her pace.  She would often have friends over for an afternoon coffee and even had a group of regulars who would get their ‘hair’ done while they were there.  She was a constant on ‘coffee row’ at the Pangman Cafe or on Saturdays, would head to Weyburn to meet with her cousins Florence & Yvonne and sister Ruth for a good chin wag at the old Met or the Coop Cafeteria.   

A Funeral Service for Doreen was held Thursday, November 22, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. from RD Family Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, SK with Funeral Celebrant Judy Beck.  Eulogy was read by Connie Arndt.  Active Pallbearers were: Trevor Lewgood, Kristian Barth, Willard Johnson, Darren Boren, Norman Merritt and Mark Johnson.  All in attendance were Honorary Pallbearers.  Luncheon was held at McKenna Hall, 317 ~ 3rd Street NE, Weyburn, SK with Interment following at Pangman Cemetery, Pangman, SK.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Doreen may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, 2550 12th Ave, Suite 301, Regina, SK, S4P 3X1 or a charity of choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doreen Agnes Barth, please visit our floral store.