November 9th 1919 – November 5th 2019
Peacefully, of Exeter, surrounded by her daughter and caring staff in her 100th year on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 at the Exeter Villa. Loving wife of the Jack V. Doerr (1995) for over 54 years. Loving mother of Susan Doerr-McAllister of Exeter, Bonnie and the late Don Mitchell of Portage La Prairie, and the late Wendy Doerr (2009). Doting grandmother of Tim, Peter, Bryan, Sarah & Christian, Kate, Don & Sheila, Mike & Dee. Proud great-grandmother to Lara, Isabella, Sophie, Taylor, Carter, Jackson & Sara. Dear sister-in-law of Lou Raeburn-Gibson of Meaford. Predeceased by her parents Rev. Alexander & Laura Raeburn-Gibson, a brother Rev. Ian Raeburn-Gibson, sister Rhoda & brother-in-law Arnold Polzin, sister Peggy & brother-in-law Alex Walker, sister-in-law Ruth Walker & brother & sister-in-law George & Audrey Doerr. She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, & cousins.
Flora led an exceptional & talented life immersed in floral arranging, pottery, china and water color painting. She was a member of the London Garden & Pottery Guilds, for which she received many awards. Her artwork was displayed in several juried shows at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ontario. Flora worked at the Exeter Times Advocate as a type set for the newspaper, and was a devoted member of Exeter United Church. Born in the Rocky Mountains of Revelstoke B.C, she was influenced by the beauty of Canada from a young age and travelled coast to coast with her family. There was nothing she loved more than to study and converse about Canadian landscapes, artists & influencers. She was generous with her time and she cared deeply for her friends & family.
A private funeral service and cremation has already taken place. Interment Exeter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Diabetes Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, South Huron Hospital, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Flora’s family would like to express their deepest thanks and appreciation for the exceptional care given to her by the staff at Exeter Villa, South Huron Hospital and by Dr. Steciuk over the last 12 years.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Rene, Monique Vanbruwaene
Susan and family, Sending our deepest condolences. What a beautiful woman, mother and grandmother. May you find comfort in the Lord, your cherished memories as you keep eachother close.
Keeping you and your family in our hearts and prayers,
Rene & Monique Vanbruwaene
(Nancy Vanbruwaene Hutchison)
George and Sue Wilson
Susan and family, deepest condolences on the loss of your Mom. She was a lovely lady. I remember your Dad too. They were both fine people. Cherish your precious memories. Hugs and prayers, George and Sue (Insley) Wilson
Alice and Jerry MacLean
Sympathy to the entire family .
Yes you will miss Flora, but be very thankfull for the many many years you spent with her!
You all have big shoes to fill to manage to keep up her legacy!
She was a wonderfull Christian lady who loved her Lord.
May Gods love comfort each of you.
Alice and Jerry MacLean
Joan Karstens
A live well lived. Our condolences to the family [Bonnie and Susan],
With Loving thoughts and memories.
Joan and Peter Karstens, Jane and Sam Brady, and David Dettmer
Bob and Helen Coates
Dear Susan and all the family, we extend our sympathy for the loss of a dear Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma. She was a lovely, gracious lady who cared deeply for her family, friends and her church. Your Mom lived her faith. She had so many artistic talents— watercolour painting, pottery, floral arranging and an ability to see the beauty of the world around She took an interest in the events and issues affecting our country and the world. It was amazing that she was still reading at the age of 99. We are so thankful to have had her for a friend. We hope that your memories are a comfort to you and you are in our thoughts and prayers as you face the days ahead.
Dave Mathers
Bonnie and Susan – your mother lived a wonderful and long life. What a legacy. She will be missed.
Alison Wedlake
Deepest sympathies Susan and family
Alison Wedlake
Susan Sabourin
Susan, I was sorry to hear of your Mother’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bobbi Vandeworp
Susan and family,
It was an honour to care for such a beautiful soul.
Thinking of you and your family.
Sandy Polzin
Dear Susan and Family please accept our sincere condolences on the passing of your mother. Flora was a woman of great style and substance and I have nothing but wonderful memories of time spent with her. Audrey remembers fondly her big road trip to Chicago with Flora my Mom and Dad it was an amazing opportunity to get to know your Mom and spend time regaled with stories of family…somewhere there is a picture of all of them together if I unearth it I will send to you.
Susan please give our very best to the family and again our condolences.
Sandy, Audrey and Max
The Polzin’s Ottawa.
Pete and Gloria McFalls
Susan and family,
You will miss your mother immensely. She certainly had a full life. So sorry for your loss.
Pete and Gloria McFalls
Bruce Delbridge
Deepest condolences to the family.
Katherine Ens
Deepest Sympathy to the family. Flora was the first person to greet mom (Audrey MacGregor) when she moved to the Villa. She was always friendly and outgoing. She will be missed.
Richard, Stephanie, Rylee and Savannah Raeburn-Gibson of Kingston, ON
Dear Susan, Bonnie and all of the Doerr Family,
Aunt Flora was a wonderful, wise, loving and supportive aunt and family member. She was always interested in what the nieces and nephews were doing and liked nothing more than listening to the stories they told and laughing about the absurdities of life. She always had pragmatic and forward looking counsel founded in strong values, ethics and her christian faith.
Her creativity and artistry expressed in her painting and pottery was remarkable and the pieces of her art the Raeburn-Gibson family has are cherished. In our home in Kingston we have a water colour painted by Aunt Flora of people walking on a beautiful west coast beach in Tofino, B.C.
We still miss our wonderful Uncle Jack and hope he and Aunt Flora are now together.
Donna, Randy and Susann Jones
Donna, Randy and Susann Jones:
We all loved spending time with Flora. She and Jack were great friends of Donna and Ted and often visited around Christmas.
Donna and Flora worked at the Times Advocate for many years.
She and Donna were the best dressed ladies in the Villa.
She will be missed.
Faye and Larry Skinner
Susan and family: Our deepest sympathy in the death of your dear mom and grandma. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Greg Harness
So very sorry to hear about your Mom. I have so many memories of Flora as our next door neighbor. She was such an elegant, loving person.
Even as a 10 yr old, when I ran around your house, and cut off the tops of all her tulips with my wooden sword, she manged to stay calm and give me that smile that said, “dont ever do that again”.
Your sorrow will eventually fade, your memories will last forever!
Christine Tuckey Buchanan
Such a lovely woman. I have fond memories of Flora, Jack , and Wendy . Caring thoughts to you & your family, Susan .
Angela & Kim McLean
Flora was the essence of elegance and loveliness, and has left her mark on the world in such a positive way. Now heaven is a better place. Fond regards to her wonderful family. She was so proud of you all. May you find peace today and always.
Elaine Ford
Dear Susan and family. My sincere condolence to you, I was surprised to learn of Floras passing. What a fun delightful lady to be with and help at the Villa. Your constant love and care for her helped her to. ????
Larry and Donna Shapton
Dear Susan and Doerr families, We want to express our deepest sympathies in the passing of your wonderful Mom and Grandma. We were honoured to know she and your Dad Jack over many years in Exeter. We know Flora’s soul will live on in her artwork. She was such a talented, accomplished artist and a truly beautiful lady with a beautiful soul. We will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers…. Most Sincerely, Larry and Donna Shapton and Frances McNabb
Ray and Judy Mills
Susan and Family;
Please accept our deepest sympathy at the loss of your wonderful matriarch. What an example she was to you and your family, as well as all who knew her. You have inherited many of her characteristics and also her talents and I know that many in your family have as well. You have been a faithful and devoted daughter to your mother Susan. You will miss her greatly,, but the time you spent with her blessed you both. You are in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
Becci (Farquhar) Horton
So sad to hear about Flora’s passing. She was always a kind and classy lady. She will always have a special place in my heart. Thinking of you all during this difficult time.
Wilma Visscher
Dear Susan and family. We were sorry to hear of your moms passing. She was a wonderful lady with a kind smile and kind words as well. May the wonderful memories of the past help you in the days and weeks ahead. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Wilma and Bert Visscher
Ena de Haan
It seemed to me that she’d live forever Susan!! For a while we exchanged books, both of us being readers.
A beautiful woman inside and out !! To you and family my condolence you faithful daughter, you’ll miss her!!
Ena
Jim & Verla Russell
To Susan, Bonnie and Family:
Deepest sympathy on the passing of your Mother and Grandmother Flora.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Yvonne/Jim Barnetson
So sorry for your loss Susan and family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time.
Keep all the memories alive.
Yvonne ( Fisher) Barnetson
leroy and cheryl Edwards
So sorry to hear about MOM our thoughts and prayers are with you!May the many memories you shared as a family help you at this most difficult time. hugs
Justin and Lisa (Hendrick) Steffler and girls
Susan and family
Tim, Peter, Bryan and Sarah
Remembering Flora and thinking of you in your time of sadness
We are so sorry to hear of your loss
Donna Greb
Dear Susan. So sudden and so close to her big milestone birthday. Sending you big hugs and loving thoughts.
Kathy (Smith) Ham
Dear Susan and family, my sincere condolences on your mother’s passing. She was a great lady and I have so many fond memories of your mother and father and going to your home and all the wonderful times we shared with them over the last 70 years. She will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Marilyn Waldeck
Susan and Family, very sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom, she was a lovely lady inside and out and will be missed by everyone in our community. The good memories you all shared with her
will always be with you to help you during the days ahead. Hugs.
Penny Watson
Dear Susan and Family
Heartfelt Sympathy to you all at this time of loss of your Mother
She was a truly talented lady and will be missed
Our thoughts and Prayers are with you all at this time
Adam, Kendra and Penny
@ Luv Scarlet
Lynda Denham
Sorry for your loss, Deepest Sympathies
The Lord Family
Dear Susan and Family
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family in the loss of your mother.
Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Deb and Dick Lord
Sandra & Larry Hern
Dear Susan and Family,
Please accept our sympathy in the loss of your dear Mother and Grandmother. The family photos show a life that was happy and well lived. May all your wonderful memories you made together eventually replace the sadness in your heart.
John Linda Wuerth
Susan and family
Sorry to hear about Flora. She was always such a gracious lady. I know she was hoping to make it to her 100th Birthday. She will celebrate now in heaven with Jack .She was good neighbour at the Villa for my mom for many years
Thinking about you
Carolyn joore
What a marvelous productive life she had and a great artistic legacy she has left.
Barb & Milt Dietrich
Dear Susan and Family; Bonnie and Family:
Our sincere condolences on the passing of your Mom, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.
May your many memories of happy times together bring you comfort today and always.
Thinking of you.
Don and Joan Heywood
Susan and family:
What an amazing lady. Cherish all the wonderful memories forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with all your family. Hugs Don & Joan
Gabbie and Margaret Mol
Accept our sincere condolences Still have great memories from the Doerr family when we were neighbours
Deb Campbell
Susan and family, so very sad to read this news of your Mom’s passing. Such a creative gentle soul. Cherish all your family memories. Thinking of you all at this difficult time.
Kendra Craig
Sympathies to the entire family. I will miss our chats at the Villa about our respective families. She always took a great interest in what my kids were up to. A talented and caring person!
Doug Polzin & Family
Aunt Flora will be missed by family & friends alike. She leaves behind so many great memories and a deep and long history of significant contributions to making our world a more beautiful place.
We are all better for having had Flora in our lives.
Love
Doug, Marilyn & Alexander Polzin
Dianne Skinner
To Susan and family : So very sorry for your loss of Mom and Grandmother you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Jackie Gilbank
DEAR SUSAN,BONNIE, + ALL OF FLORA’S GRANDCHILDREN +GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ;
Rick,Jackie + Jessica Gilbank are heartbroken to hear that you have lost our Dear Aunt Flora!!
We have such lovely vivid memories to treasure of our many family gatherings in Exeter + Hanover .
Please know how great our sadness for you is!
Christa DeGrace
Sorry for your loss. Flora will be missed. I always enjoyed and will remember my visits with her at the villa.
Cindy Taylor
Dear Susan and family I would like to send my condolences to you all at this time. I had the pleasure of looking after your Mom and grandmother over the past couple of years. She always had a smile and a friendly word to say. She loved to talk about her family and she was proud of you all. She will be sadly missed by all the residents and staff…Cindy
Exeter Villa
The residents and staff of the Exeter Villa send their heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.