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Doreen Shirley Cassin, born June 23rd 1931 to Harold and Edith Collins in Welland Ontario. Loving mother to Lee Anne (Pat) Lepore, Terry Conway, Patti (Darrell) Cannon, and Michael Cassin (Dr. Tayna Reeves).
Predeceased by her husbands Patrick John “PJ” Conway (1966) and Herman Leo “Red” Cassin (2013).
Doreen played a pivotal role in shaping the lives of her grandchildren, guiding them into the caring and loving adults that they are today. Christopher and Carrie, Julie, Natalie and Randy, Colleen and Joe, Katie and Andrew brought Doreen immeasurable love and support as she grew older.
Doreen was a devoted great-grandmother cherished by her great-grandchildren who affectionately called her “Gigi”. Spencer, Kylie, Dante, Milania, Roman, Carmello, Eli and Lincoln were constant joys in her life. She adored them as babies and took great pride in their accomplishments, eagerly awaiting updates and photos of their latest adventures.
A passionate gardener, Doreen found great joy in tending to her garden well into her late 80’s, a testament to her enduring vitality. Her sharp wit was another hallmark of her character. She became a skilled bridge player in her 50’s, getting her masters and continuing to play duplicate bridge twice a week until 2020.
Doreen’s love for travel began when she was 40 and it became a lifelong passion. She traveled the world, exploring places like New Zealand, Iceland, Portugal, England, Ireland, South America, Thailand and across Canada and the United States. These adventures began with her beloved husband, Red, and continued through many special trips with her family.
Her commitment to giving back was also a defining aspect of Doreen’s life. She supported a variety of charities including Rayjon, Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels. For 37 years Doreen donated to World Vision by adopting children. She was known as “gramma” to many Jr. Kindergarten students, offering her time in classrooms across Lambton County.
In the fall of 2023, Doreen moved to Bear Creek Terrace. Though her time there was brief, her presence was felt by many. To list the number of people that cared for her needs would be impossible. Suffice to say we, the family of Doreen, cannot express enough how much we appreciate the commitment and care so many have provided.
Although Doreen was an only child, she was incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a large, loving extended family. Through her marriages she was welcomed into the Conway (Keon) and Cassin families with numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law along with countless nieces and nephews who became an integral part of her life. These close-knit families brought her immense joy, support and a sense of belonging and she cherished the deep bonds she shared with each of them.
We were blessed to have had such an extraordinary woman in our lives. Her memory will forever be etched in our hearts, and we will carry her love and lessons with us always.
Memorial service will be announced in the new year. In lieu of flowers, donations to Rayjon, the Red Cross, and Bayshore would be appreciated (cheques only at the funeral home, please). Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia.