DOREEN FARQUHARSON PRUDEN (NÉE STEVEN)
With great sorrow, we announce the death on November 9, 2018 of Doreen Pruden. She leaves to cherish her
memory Vic, her husband of 54 years, her son Keith and daughter Kate. She will be sadly missed by
her family members in Scotland (her brother Ken, niece Anna and nephew Bradley, and their children,
and her many friends in Canada, Scotland and France.
Doreen was proud of her Scottish heritage. She was born in Johnstone, Scotland, in June 1939 and
educated in Edinburgh, graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1960 with an MA degree in
French language and literature, followed in 1961 by the Teacher's Certificate in Secondary Education.
In 1963, Doreen came to teach at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg, where she met and married
Vic. Later she taught at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre and at Kelvin High School. She was also
very active in the Winnipeg Teachers' Association and in 1987 was awarded the Distinguished Service
Award for excellence in teaching and outstanding contributions to the profession. While teaching, she
took courses at the Université de Saint-Boniface and met all the requirements of the Association of
Translators and Interpreters to practice the profession of Translator. Retirement brought Doreen new opportunities to use her energy, knowledge and talents both as a
translator and as a volunteer. She worked in Age & Opportunity's ABCs of Fraud programme and until
her recent sudden illness, helped newcomers to Canada to learn the intricacies of the English language.
Friends, too, will remember her generosity of spirit and unfailing kindness, and her love of the natural
world. The birds and wildlife in her backyard on the banks of the Assiniboine River were a constant
source of pleasure; her garden was a riot of colour with flowers carefully chosen to bloom from early
spring to late fall.
The family wishes to thank friends and the staff at Grace Hospital for their care and support throughout
Doreen's illness. Cremation has taken place. Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of
Doreen's life at the Viscount Gort Hotel on Thursday December 20, 2018, from 7:00 – 10:00p.m. In
lieu of flowers, please do something to make the world a better, brighter place, in remembrance of
Doreen.