Obituary of Doris Bourke

Esther "Doris" Bourke (nee Doolan) passed in peace and entered Eternal Life on Friday August 29,2014 at the Groves Park Lodge, Renfrew at the age of 87 years. Daughter of the late Catherine Brennan and the late Patrick Doolan. Doris was born in Dublin, Ireland; the third youngest of 12 children. She was the beloved "Dorrie" to her predeceased brothers Robert, Joey, Peter, John, Christopher and predeceased sisters Bridget, Anne, Katherine, Mary, Maureen and infant sister Theresa. Doris enjoyed a childhood roaming the fields of Crumlin with her siblings, "sampling" the apple crop from local farmers and gorging on hedgerow blackberries. Like many Irish of her generation, Doris left Ireland to seek work in England. She met her late husband Thomas Joseph Bourke(1989) at the Blarney Dance Hall in London in 1951 and followed him to Canada a year later. They were married in 1952 and raised five children in Braeside, Ontario. Doris was a faithful Catholic and prayed the rosary daily, mainly for "those who most need it...whoever and wherever they may be." Throughout her life she engaged in many quiet acts of generosity and compassion and lived her faith through her open door (and heart) policy of welcoming any and all into her home and life - be they old friends, wayward children, travellers or lost pets. She was an active member of the Sandpoint - Braeside CWL for more than 50 years and will be remembered for her legendary pie-making abilities and her lifelong mission of teaching people the art of "real tea-making". Doris took up golfing later in life, and knew she had truly found her sport when she discovered she had a wicked drive that could send the ball sailing hundreds of yards down the fairway; putting was another story. In her death she is reunited with family members who have passed on before her, in particular her eldest son David Thomas Bourke (2012). Doris' unconditional love and quick wit will be greatly missed. Those left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory include her children Patrick (Sabina) of Stittsville; Thomas (Cheryl) of Glasgow Station; John (Dianne) of Ottawa and Maureen of Glasgow Station; her daughter-in-law Annalynn Bourke of Braeside; as well as her grandchildren; David, Sean, Chantal, Shannon, Brandon, Jordan, Connor and great-grandchildren; Lucas, Christopher, Rhiannon, Dallas, Aidan. A part of Doris' heart always remained in her homeland of Ireland where she was a special Aunt to those of her beloved childhood home, 16 Rafter's Road: Patrick O'Reilly (Phyllis), Christopher O'Reilly (Nora), Kevin O'Reilly (Mary), Francis O'Reilly (Patricia), Catherine O'Reilly, Elizabeth O'Reilly, the late Patrick Doolan, Marie Mallon and their respective families. Doris could think of no better place to spend her last night on earth than in a church, and therefore like many of her Irish ancestors she will be taken to her beloved parish church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Braeside where family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Friday, September 5th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on, what was to be her 88th birthday, Saturday morning September 6th at 11 o'clock. We know Doris' Republican heart would be delighted if you wore a bit of green. Doris cared deeply about injustices and the welfare of others, especially the most forgotten of our society. We know that she would appreciate a donation to a local charity such as the Ottawa Mission, a global social justice organization such as Development and Peace, or an organization of your choice that is trying to make the world a more loving and caring place. "Set me like a seal on your heart, Love is strong as death."