DORIS DIRKS

DIRKS (VON WICHERT), DORIS It is with sadness that we announce the death of Doris Dirks on January 1, 2018, at Malton Village, Mississauga. She will be greatly missed by her son, Eric Dirks, his wife Lisa and grandsons Kendall and Spencer, of Elmhurst, Illinois. She is predeceased by Wilhelm (Willy), her husband of 46 years, her son Peter and her brother Horst. She is fondly remembered by Karen Fullbrook of Schomberg, Ontario, her nephew and niece Paul and Andrea von Wichert, both of Winnipeg. Doris was born July 25, 1938, in Reval, Estonia to parents Oskar Erik Konrad von Wichert and Margarethe Eugenie Bewer. After much hardship in Germany during and after the Second World War, she emigrated to Canada in 1953 with her mother and brother, settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There, Doris completed her high school education and enjoyed outdoor activities including canoe racing and spending time with her beloved Cocker Spaniel. She met Willy Dirks in her church youth group and the two were married in 1961. They moved to Toronto and bought a house in Scarborough where they welcomed two sons, Eric (1962) and Peter (1964). As a young mother, Doris sewed and knitted clothes for her family and decorated her home using her macramé and needlework talents. Doris and Willy introduced their sons to camping and canoeing and made regular trips to Winnipeg to visit family and friends. Doris, an active member of her community, was always willing to drive school teams to games and other events. She was a familiar volunteer and lunch supervisor at her local elementary school, Manhattan Park P.S. As a Neighbourhood Watch captain, she helped educate others about safety in the community. Her caring and kindness shone through her willingness to help neighbours, by housesitting, pet sitting, sharing preserves from her bountiful vegetable garden or simply lending an ear. Doris was usually accompanied by one of her cherished dogs and cats and enjoyed meeting all the neighbourhood pets on her walks. In her later years, Doris became the proud Oma to Kendall and Spencer and travelled to Elmhurst to spend time with her grandchildren and Eric and Lisa. She also welcomed their visits to Scarborough and enjoyed doing crafts with her grandsons when they were young. Throughout her life, Doris met each challenge she faced with grit and determination and her inner strength inspired those around her. Memorial donations may be made to the Toronto Humane Society. Private services have been held. Burial will be at Pine Hills Cemetery, Scarborough.