DOREEN PRYSTANSKI

DOREEN PRYSTANSKI December 3, 1952 ~ March 10, 2026
Doreen Anne Prystanski (née Belluz), age 73, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at TBRHSC after a brief battle with cancer. She was born to parents Dan & Dora on December 3, 1952, in Fort Frances, ON. She was the youngest of four children. She grew up in town for a few years until the family moved out to "The Farm," where she lived until leaving home. Doreen attended school in La Vallee & Cornerbrook, high school in Fort Frances, and university in Thunder Bay. It was in Thunder Bay that she met her future husband, Nick, at Finnegan's in 1971. Two years later, on May 12, 1973, they would be married at St. Mary's Church in Fort Frances. In May of 2023, they celebrated 50 years of marriage, no small feat in today's terms. They raised two boys, Trevor & Daniel, at the Franklin St. home.

Doreen worked at St. Joe's, then moved on to the Spence Clinic for many years, where she made many lasting friendships with both coworkers and patients. She then moved to the Obstetrics Clinic to finish her career. In 2000, they began a 20-year stretch of vacationing in Mesa, Arizona. These trips started as a few weeks visiting Nick's sister, Sandra, to spending all of February and March in Mesa building lasting friendships with their Silver Creek gang; Nick spending his days golfing and Doreen starting her thrifting career. Doreen's thrifting continued at home, always looking for bargains. She would pick up her niece, Patricia, on Tuesdays for their weekly thrifting sessions looking for great deals and weekly lunch dates.

Doreen was an avid gardener whose yard would rival any botanical garden. She would get a headstart on her seed planting, even going so far as to turn her sunroom into an indoor greenhouse. In recent years, she began planting milkweed to encourage monarch butterfly repopulation; Trevor built her an enclosure to promote her cats morphing into monarchs. She took great pride in helping others with advice or flowers so their gardens could flourish too. In her free times she enjoyed puzzles, aquabics, knitting, and cross-stitch. One of her greatest investments was her backyard pool, and she could not wait for summer to dip her toes in the water. She was also an avid baker and cook. Family holidays were filled with great spreads of many foods. Her bun-making abilities were impeccable, and everyone always asked if there were any extras, which she would happily reply: "I'll make more this week." Her baking was unrivalled, especially at Christmas time, where if you had a sweet tooth, you were not disappointed; a trait her son Daniel picked up and carries on today.

In 2014, she officially retired and took on her new role as Gramma to her Mrs. Moose or her Dolly. From the moment she met Avery Joyce, she fell in love. She would walk to pick up Avery and take her for daily walks when she was a baby. As she got older, these would progress to trips to Vicker's Park for daily outings until Gramma was tired out. Gramma taught Avery how to swim in the family pool, as well as on trips to Churchill and the Complex. The last couple of years were spent cheering Avery on at her softball games. Avery will miss her daily FaceTime calls with Gramma but knows she will be cheering her on from up above.

Doreen is survived by her husband Nick, her sons Trevor (Katie) & Daniel, granddaughters Avery & Abi, brothers Johnny (Bette), Jim (Glenda), sister-in-law Vuokko, brothers-in-law Dennis (Hope), Victor, Eugene (Elaine), Wayne (Zora), Mike, sister-in-law Sandra, and numerous nieces & nephews.

Predeceased by her parents Daniel & Dora, in-laws John & Olga, brother Daniel, sisters-in-law Janice & Maggie, brother-in-law Patrick, niece Kimberly, & nephew Lawrence.

Thanks to the staff at TBRHSC 1A, including Dr. Ingves and Dr. Sellick. Special thanks to Dr. Moorehouse and Nurse Daniella for their care and compassion in Mom's final hours.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 27 from 1pm to 5pm at the Da Vinci Centre. If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Dew Drop Inn and RFDA would be greatly appreciated.

Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com