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Dorothy Evelyn Gabana (nee Barrett)

November 10, 2011

GABANA, Dorothy Evelyn (nee Barrett) – of Trail passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital on November 10, 2011. Dorothy was born November 10, 1936 in Ottawa, Ontario to Andy and Doris Barrett. She was raised in Vancouver and Nelson before marrying Norman Gabana in 1956 and moving to Trail.

She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Norman, and her four children Karen, Brian, Lynn and Steve.

Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother. She was deeply committed to each of her children fulfilling their potential by complementing regular schoolwork with additional countless hours of home study. She was also active in her community including establishing several Trail Chapters of organizations dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and establishing an organization to oppose the demolition of Trail’s old Junior High School. She then lobbied and raised funds to renovate the building’s basement for Trail’s Youth Centre.

She loved playing guitar in the church choir, studying the arts, and spending entire summers at Christina Lake with the extended Gabana family. And she loved visiting with her sister Jacqueline (deceased), her cousin Jackie and her parents when they would often stay up late into the evening reminiscing and discussing life.

Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Trail with Father Matthieu Gombo Yange OfmCap celebrant. Interment to follow the reception at Mountain View Cemetery. Bill Clark of Alternatives and Cremation Services is entrusted with the arrangements. You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s on-line register at www.myalternatives.ca

The family would like to thank the staff at Poplar Ridge ECU for the excellent caregiving they provided Dorothy every day for the past 22 years. Donations may be made in Dorothy’s memory to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital and Health Foundation, 1200 Hospital Bench Road, Trail BC, V1R 4M1 for a special Poplar Ridge project suggested by the staff.



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