Doreen Terekoff

Doreen Terekoff

June 6th, 1936 – September 8, 2019

Doreen was born on June 6th, 1936, to Jaroslav (Jerry) and Anna Novak in the village of Stepanovka in South Western Ukraine.

The peaceful community was disrupted during World War II (1939-1945) and several army units fought in the area. When the war ended, the Russian Soviet Army controlled that portion of the Ukraine and it introduced a    policy of repatriation. As a result, the Novak family, being of Czech origin, was moved to Hanov in Czechoslovakia. Doreen was pleased to make new friends in school and church; however, her father wanted to migrate to Canada where three sisters and one brother had already settled.

The Novak family moved to Minitonas, MB in 1949. Many opportunities and challenges were found in this land of freedom. The biggest challenge that Doreen faced was to learn a new language. At age 13, she was enrolled in a grade one class, and by June 1954, she completed her grade eleven standing.

Doreen’s first permit teaching assignment was in a one room rural school in the Roblin area. She enjoyed the experience and also realized the necessity of getting more education if she wanted to continue teaching.

While working as a nanny, she completed her Grade Twelve at West Kildonan Collegiate. Thereafter, she worked one year at Canada Post in Winnipeg. Doreen retuned to the Swan River Valley and taught another permit year at Swan Valley School. The following year she enrolled in Teachers’ College and became a certified teacher in 1960. Her teaching experience, prior to her marriage to Peter Terekoff in 1965, was at Taylor School in Swan River and Montcalm School in Winnipeg. As a teacher, Doreen was caring and competent. She respected all of her students and their parents.

With the arrival of her two sons, David and James, Doreen was happy to be at home as the children’s teacher, homemaker, and wife to her husband. The family and community meant a lot to her and she devoted her time to meaningful activities such as: caring for people with health problems, church related activities, Valley Workshop program, teaching English as a second language, promoting diabetic education, and fundraising for charities. She was responsive to appeals by international organizations which had foster children with special needs.

Doreen loved working on their small family farm which produced pedigreed seed. Her skills at operating farm equipment were commendable. Her endeavours at gardening and fruit growing were exemplary of good horticultural practices.

She also enjoyed substitute teaching at all grade levels, and she usually gave a Werther’s candy to everyone in her class as a tangible reward for diligence, cooperation, and good conduct.

Doreen believed in salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Her life was centered on doing the Will of God in her interactions with all people. Her emphasis was on following the golden rule and not on the pleasures of materialism. We believe that Doreen is now reunited with her family members in the presence of God. Those of us who knew her will miss her presence.

An evening visitation took place on Monday, September 16th, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the Chapel of Paull Funeral Home, Swan River, Manitoba.

Funeral service was held on Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 at 1:30 PM from the Temple Baptist Church, with Pastor Neal Effa officiating.

Active pallbearers were Dan Jersak, Dale Jersack, Tim Jersack, Len Nemetchek, Gregory Terekoff, Darren Terekoff, Nathan Terekoff and Jeremy Novak.

Following the service, Doreen was laid to rest in the Birchwood Cemetery, Swan River, Manitoba.

If friends and family so desired, memorial donations in Doreen’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Paull Funeral Home and Crematorium is honoured to have served the family.

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