Burnell (nee Dewores), Theresa (Terry) Oricia
(Nov 6, 1931 – Aug 24, 2022)
Peacefully at the Almonte General Hospital at the age of 90.
Predeceased by her parents Fred and Antonina (Rabchak) Derwores and her siblings, sister Mary (John) Novitski, brothers Michael Dewores, Anthony (Helen) Derwores, William (Linda) Dewores, and sister Evelyn (Keith) Rackel.
Survived by her husband Edward Burnell of 65 years and their children Bruce, Richard and Donna-Marie.
Born November 6, 1931, the youngest of six children in Kamsack (Cote) Saskatchewan, she grew up on the family homestead which initially had no electricity or running water. She attended the one-room Little Boggy School of Cote, Saskatchewan starting at the age of six, walking the 2 ½ miles to get there including crossing the Assiniboine River that went through their farm property. She stayed with relatives in Kamsack to attend Kamsack Collegiate for grades 9 and 10, then with her sister Mary in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario to attend Soo Technical for studies including Home Economics, Music and Art. She had many fond memories of Kamsack, the close family ties, attending the various dances and events where her brothers’ band played, playing shortstop for the girls’ baseball team, and the time growing up on the farm with her older siblings. Her childhood on the prairie farm helped foster her sense of practicality, her resilience, and her independence that stood her well throughout her life
Her post-secondary education included business courses at Manitoba Technical in Winnipeg where she stayed with her sister Evelyn. The flooding of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in 1950 forced the closure of the College sending her back to Kamsack until the waters subsided.
She remained in Winnipeg for a couple of more years working as a clerk-typist at the Affiliated Inspection Bureau, Grain Exchange building before heading off for Vancouver, British Columbia in the Fall of 1952 where she worked at her favourite job as receptionist/switchboard operator/typist for Placer Development Mining Company. Vancouver was where she met and was engaged to her future husband, Ed Burnell, who was posted there with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP required a five-year waiting period before they could be married. After they both relocated to Ottawa, they were finally able to wed on November 16, 1957 at St. John’s Anglican Church, Ottawa. She held a couple of additional jobs, including the stockbroker Davidson and Company and then Ontario Building Cleaning, before the arrival of her first child at which point, she devoted herself to her family and the raising of her two sons and one daughter.
While in Ottawa she volunteered for various charities and served as scrutineer at the polling station during one of the federal elections. She had strong ties with many of the neighbours in the area and, with her kind and generous personality, easily won the friendship of most everyone she met.
Terry treasured her family and the many wonderful memories forged over the years including times spent at the family cottage especially during the summer months and for the Christmas season. After her upbringing on the farm, cottage life was a welcome time for her, away from the phones and bustling noise of the city, even during the winter when there was once again no running water. There she helped her children learn their independence and hosted numerous relatives and friends over the years.
After her husband’s retirement from the RCMP, and her children’s graduation from secondary and post-secondary education, she and her family found a new home on the outskirts of Almonte in the summer of 1989 where they settled on a small country property that reminded her of her family’s old homestead on the prairies. Again, she made strong connections with the neighbours and considered the younger people in the area her adopted family too.
Terry will be greatly missed by her husband and children, and her many friends and family. She will be remembered for her passion for her plants and gardening, her fondness for feeding the birds, and her great compassion for all living creatures, including the many family pets adopted over the years. Her devotion to her family will never be forgotten.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Almonte General Hospital and her physician, Dr Dawson, for their dedicated care and compassion for Terry during her stay at the hospital.
In accordance with her wishes, there will be no service or celebration of life. Memorial contributions to the Almonte General Hospital-Fairview Manor Foundation or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
Arrangements are in the care of
C.R. Gamble Funeral Home & Chapel Inc.
(127 Church St., Almonte, ON., 613-256-3313)
Condolences & Tributes: www.crgamble.com
