In loving memory of Doreen Vivian Bemister (nee Lee) born November 25, 1930 peacefully entered eternal life January 21, 2021. She is predeceased by her husband, J.L. Peter Bemister. Doreen will be remembered for her feisty spirit, determination and love for her family, particularly her ten grandchildren - John, Leanne, Erica, Jessie, David, Nicole, James, Isaac, Clare and Chloe and seven great grandchildren – Nathan, Luka, Eli, Brielle, Ella, Nikola and Violet. Additionally, she is survived by her four children and their spouses - Robert (Dione), Mark (Vilma), Paul (Judy) and Darleen (Frank).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small private Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by her family on January 27, 2021 with entombment at the Garden of Gethsemani where she will forever rest beside our beloved Peter B and her mother Estelle Beltz. The three of them made a formidable team.

Please contact a family member for a livestreaming link.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online tributes page at https://kearneyfs.com/obituaries/

Special thanks to Doreen’s many caregivers over the years and her care team at Nicola Lodge.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Parkinson Society of BC can be made in Doreen’s name.

Doreen was very proud of all of her family. She was always ready with advice and guidance and asked us to strive to be the best version of ourselves. Her grandchildren brought her such joy and her greatest concern was their wellbeing. She relished being a grandmother. She was also proud of the life she and Peter B built together - from their early roots helping to build Corpus Christi Parish, while they worked together to start ‘Bemister Electric’, to their home in South Vancouver, and final family home together in North Burnaby. But the one place Doreen loved more than anywhere was at their Beach House in Point Roberts. She could often be seen cruising the streets in her two-door Cadillac with one of her fluffy, white dogs, riding shotgun or on the dashboard (Bimbo, Bimbo II, Buddy or Honey), cruising the strip with the wind in her hair. She’d be looking for a campfire visit with friends - who were like extended family, so she could tell stories and laugh into the night. We are grateful for the many friends and caregivers who helped us all support Doreen in the years after Peter B passed. Many of those friends were from her cherished Maple Beach community.

Doreen was born near the start of the Great Depression and passed in the middle of an International Pandemic. She knew what tough times were like and had experienced more than a few significant hardships. Those early years shaped her as a person, resulting in a keen sense of frugality and eagle eye for a bargain. She had a knack for finding a good deal but a hard time parting with anything, including items well past their best before date. As with many raised in the depression era, Doreen hated to waste anything.

Doreen and Peter met in Grade One and graduated together from Saint Patrick’s High School in Vancouver. They were genuine, real-life, childhood sweethearts. She used to jokingly say about Peter B; “I had to marry him so he would leave me alone.” They went on to be married forty-seven years until Peter B passed away in 2000.

After their children had all moved out, and much to Peter B’s dismay, Doreen somehow figured out how to tag along with him when he attended electrical conferences and fishing & hunting trips. One trip was all it took, and he couldn’t shake her. She tagged along every chance she got, particularly enjoying their trips to the West Coast Fishing Club with her at the wheel of their Hummer.

Doreen was always sure to look her finest. From her thick blond, coiffed hair, to her beautiful painted nails, she always knew how to rock the many leopard print pieces she owned.

In the middle of a pandemic lockdown, she decided she had had enough. The restrictions on family visits and shortage of hugs for almost a year finally broke her heart. It was more than she could bear. As strong as her heart and will were, she decided it was time to join Peter B, once again. So, we shifted our prayer focus and asked God to let her in and told Peter B to get ready.

Dear Peter B - We did our best to look after mom (like Mark promised you we would do) but she was still a handful. :) She’s all yours now. Love, Robert, Mark, Paul and Darleen xo