Dorine Thompson

Dorine Roxie Thompson (nee McMillan), a lifetime resident of the area, passed away at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Wed., April 8, 2009, following a brief illness. She was 85.
She was born in Williamsburg on Oct. 5, 1923 to her parents, Ernest and Ruby McMillan (nee Moke). She grew up in Chesterville as the sixth child in a family of nine. Sisters Pauline and Phyllis and brothers Brooks, Rupert and Jay were born before the premature death of their mother. Her father remarried and Dorine was blessed with her step-mother Maude and three half-sisters Joan, Ruth, and Emma.
Following graduation from high school, she worked for a year in order to pay for her nurse's training at Cornwall General Hospital. The early years of her nursing career focused on special duty nursing at several hospitals, including Winchester District Memorial Hospital. After several years of child rearing, Dorine returned to nursing as the office nurse for Doctors Robertson, Dawson, and Houze at the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic. In this capacity, she touched the lives of many residents of the local communities over many years. Dorine was also frequently called upon by friends and neighbours in Iroquois for her nursing expertise and unfailingly responded with knowledge, caring, and compassion. She strongly believed in the importance of education and passed on her love of learning to her daughters, providing a positive role model for them.
On a snowy April 27, 1946, Dorine married Edward P. Thompson and together they had two daughters Janet and Roxie. The family resided in a house on the St. Lawrence River in Iroquois for many years, with Dorine and Ed moving to Morrisburg in later years. She was a loving wife and lifelong partner of Ed for 63 years and a wonderful and beloved mother of Jan and Roxie. During the 1980s, Dorine enthusiastically welcomed the role of "Nan" for her four grandchildren, Lauren, Katie, Andrew, and Meredith. Her home was always filled with family, friends, and neighbours, music, and laughter. She enjoyed camping with her family, hooking rugs, refinishing furniture, and playing golf, dominos, bridge, and shuffleboard. Over the years, Dorine and Ed were active and faithful members of the Iroquois United Church.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years Edward, her daughters Janet (John) Davis of Oakville, and Roxie Thompson Isherwood of Calgary, her half-sisters Joan Archambault of Cornwall, Ruth (Caryl) Cooper of Morrisburg, and Emma (Roger) Marchand of Kingston. She will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Lauren, Andrew, Katie, and Meredith. She was predeceased by sisters Pauline Baxter and Phyllis McIntosh, and brothers Brooks, Rupert, and Jay. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Iroquois on Fri., April 10 with Rev. Janet Evans officiating, followed by inurnment at the Iroquois Point Cemetery.
Ed, Jan, and Roxie would like to express their deepest appreciation to Dr. Jennifer Ingram-Crooks and the nursing staff of the Complex Care Unit, Winchester District Memorial Hospital, whose knowledge, skills, care, and compassion greatly contributed to a peaceful, dignified, and meaningful hospital experience. Each of you made such a difference at this time in our lives and this will be forever remembered.
Donations to Winchester District Memorial Hospital would be appreciated by the family and will be directed to support the work of the Complex Care Unit.