SITTER
Doris Victoria Sitter passed away suddenly in the Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, on Monday, March 23, 2009 at the age of 89, with her family at her side. She is predeceased by her three brothers Stewart (Helen), Bernard (Gladys), Gerald (Harriet), three sisters Louise (Sam), Alice (Wes), Grace Eloise, Uncle Lloyd Myers, and grandchild Kent Nielsen. Doris will be greatly missed but always treasured by her five children John, Gary (partner Deborah), Sharyn, Anna Marie (Gordon), and Eloise (Jim); grandchildren: Susan (Heinz), Scott (Brenda), John Barry, Kimberley (Darcy), Karen (partner John), Kristofor (Jamie), Mark (Tanya), Betina (Michael), Jeffrey (Jette), Tammy (Scott), Todd (Jennifer),Ted (Sarah), Kevin (Leslie),Glenn (Colleen),and thirty-two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Doris was born on January 7, 1920. She was the first baby girl born in the new Victoria Hospital in Vanguard, Saskatchewan. Following the death of her mother, Doris, at the age of two, lived with her grandmother in Zanesville, Ohio. In 1934, she returned to Vanguard, continuing her education and starting her dance career, teaching 35 students in the town theatre. Doris was one of the pioneers of dance in Saskatchewan. In 1948, she established the Moose Jaw School of Dancing and in 1966 officially registered the school now known as the Doris Sitter School of Dance. Over the years, she has willingly and with great determination shared her quality of teaching with thousands of students in a kind and caring way and inspired the best in every student – ‘Every Child a Star’. She retired in 2008 after 60 years as Director of the Doris Sitter School of Dance. Aside from her dancing, she owned and operated a clothing store ‘Carousel Costumes and Dance Supplies Limited’. Fashion was also one of her passions and her high heeled shoes were almost her trademark – even at 89 years of age. Doris developed a genuine love for painting in oils and water colors. Her paintings were displayed at the Moose Jaw Cultural Center in May 2008. She enjoyed travelling for pleasure and study and did so extensively throughout North America and Europe. In 2006, she was invited to attend the Inaugural World Forum at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford England as Ambassador for Canada. Doris was the recipient of many awards and tributes throughout the years. Her most recent include: The Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world; the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award 2007, and the American Biographical Institutes Hall of Fame honour 2008. It was once said of Doris, by a friend and admirer, “I can only say her beauty inside and outside makes me quote Winston Churchill, “We make a Living by what we Get, but we make a Life by what we Give.” Given all her accomplishments and success Doris’s greatest success was her roll as an amazing mother and matriarch to her family. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St.Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 1034 Third Ave. N.W., Moose Jaw, on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 10:00 am. Reverend Father Job Adai will be the Celebrant. Interment will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. Evening Prayer Services will be held at W.J.Jones & Son Chapel on Friday evening at 7:00 pm, with visitation to follow. Memorials to the CNIB, 2550 Broad St., Regina, S4P 9Z9, or to the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, 217 Main St.N., Moose Jaw, S6H 0W1, would be appreciated. In living memory of Doris, a tree will be planted in Besant Park by W. J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register book at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).
Dana Smith Funeral Director