Obituary of Doris Margaret Thorsteinson
DORIS MARGARET THORSTEINSON
June 25, 1928 – September 18, 2022
Doris, beloved wife of Baldwin S. Thorsteinson and very dear mother of Lisa and Kirk passed away at Mount Sinai Hospital due to a stroke. With Lisa at her side, Doris passed peacefully ending her 5-year courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Doris leaves behind her two children, and her much loved grandchildren: Erick and Angela who live in Toronto and Khanin and her daughter in law Gift Samabhandhu who reside in Bangkok, Thailand with Kirk.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Doris moved to the United States in her early twenties to work as a Church Secretary. From there she moved to Ottawa to work as a Church Secretary and met her future husband Baldwin Thorsteinson at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Sparks Street in Ottawa. Baldwin Thorsteinson worked as an Aeronautical Engineer at The National Research Council until his passing from leukemia in 1980. Doris relocated her family to be near her brother Ed Kletke and his family in Toronto. Doris continued her work in Toronto as a Church Secretary at Eastminister United Church for two years and then 6 years at Metropolitan United Church on Queen St in downtown Toronto.
Doris always had a love for music and studied with the Royal Conservatory of Music for her entire life and completed her Grade 10 RCM Exams. Upon retiring from the church, Doris started her own music school called “The Melodic Line – Music for Young Children” and operated a school in Etobicoke and later ran the school out of her home in Woodbridge. Doris took tremendous pride in being able to spread her joy for music to young children on the piano. Doris taught piano well into her 80’s and continued to play the piano up until a few days before her death at Hazelton Retirement Home.
By nature, Doris was a loving and a kind hearted women who looked for the good in all people and drew strength in challenging times from her strong Christian faith. She was selfless and always helping others be it in the church or with children finding the right keys on the piano. An avid gardener until her final days, Doris would love to go to Sheridan Nurseries in Lawrence Park and load up a cart with plants and spend the day tending to her gardens and pots.
Doris touched the lives of so many more people than she could ever imagine. While Doris will be profoundly missed the family takes comfort that her suffering is finally over and she can rest in peace. Her legacy will continue to live on through her children and extended family and all those that were fortunate enough to have known her.
A funeral service will be held at Fairlawn United Church, 28 Fairlawn Ave, Toronto, on Tuesday September 27th at 10:00 am. A livestream of the service will be available online, for those who are unable to attend. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
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