Sieger
Doris Armella Sieger entered into this world just prior to the beginning of the “Dirty 30s”, being born Dec. 28, 1929 in the Coronation Hospital.
She enjoyed the coveted spot of being the “baby” of nine children (five boys, Wallace, Doug, Elton, Ken and Bud and four girls, Laura, Iona, Merle and Doris) born to John and Armella Bargholz.
Childhood days were spent growing up on the family farm near Brownfield.
Even though Doris grew up in the depression era, she didn’t recall “wanting” for anything, remembering a home life very rich and generous because of her family’s love and hard work.
The homestead was a busy hub for all the gatherings of a large family, with numerous nieces and nephews to nurture.
She recalled interacting with their many “exotic pets” native to the area (owls, hawks, gophers, pigs, bunnies and the usual farm cats and dogs).
Doris enjoyed playing musical instruments with a mandolin being her favourite. She frequented community social and sporting events and of course all the daily farm happenings.
She was also a big help to her mother, with her family working on the nearby threshing crews each season, which brought extra chores and a dozen men to feed morning til night.
Doris and siblings attended Brownfield School, handily being a quarter mile away from home.
Her dad was the “fix-it” guy for the school and Doris affectionately recalled getting paid a small sum for helping with janitor duties, getting the embers glowing for Christmas concerts and her father emceeing many social events as well.
In her teen years, Doris loved their weekly treks to Coronation for shopping, often staying on to attend the latest theatre show.
Doris dreamed many dreams, as a young woman does, one of which was to marry a good man and have beautiful children and a great life.
She succeeded in that, and after dating some four years, Doris married local boy, Wilfred Sieger, in 1952.
Wilf frequently played sports – baseball and hockey, and worked with her older brothers and was soon smitten by their younger sister!
The happy couple would reside on the same homestead in the Talbot area for the next 33 years, raising four children, prospering as farmers and establishing a notable Charolais herd.
Doris was a wonderful support to husband, Wilf, holding down the farm, while he pursued organizational opportunities with the Charolais industry or start-ups of local ventures.
With the boys remaining to farm, Wilf and Doris moved to town in 1985, which were delightful days for them.
Now there was more time to take great holiday trips arranged by sister-in-law, Jo Bargholz and more time to visit friends and relatives, go to dinner theatres and community events.
Doris had a very artistic nature, that she shared with oldest brother Wallace. She would put her creativity and talents to good use over her many years in the Talbot and Coronation communities. She made thousands of community event posters; decorating dozens of shower, wedding and anniversary cakes; designing and painting community and farms signs, preparing hundreds of festival certificates as well as a vast array of other projects during her life.
Doris was also a great historian, following in her mother’s footsteps, by keeping a daily dairy about family life, plus compiling decades of newspaper scrapbooks of her large family and community circles.
Her scrapbooks were often shared at community milestone celebrations.
Doris was creative all the years of her life making special homemade cards for loved ones.
Doris enjoyed her lifelong involvement in the Talbot Homemakers Club and Ladies Hospital Auxiliary.
With 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, she proudly attended festivals, dance revues, school concerts, 4H club days, swimming lessons and the like. Doris was always community minded whether helping or participating as long as she was able to.
As a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister or friend, Doris was deeply cherished in many of our lives.
Doris lived her last four years comfortably at the Coronation Long Term Care facility with Wilf and her family close by to visit and care for her until her passing on July 28.
A Celebration of Doris’s life was held on Fri., Aug. 5 at the Coronation Community Centre, with an interment held prior to the service at the Coronation Cemetery.
Donations can be made in honour of Doris to: Coronation Health Centre Foundation, P.O. Bag 500, Coronation, Alberta, T0C 1C0.
Laurie Palmer of Coronation Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358 Coronation, Alberta, TOC 1CO, 403.578.2928, was entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements. Condolences can be forwarded to the family by visiting our website at www.coronationfuneralhome.ca.
Card of thanks
We wish to express our sincere thanks for the support and visits to our mom prior to her passing.
We especially would like to thank Dr. Noelle and the nursing and support staff at the Coronation Long Term Care Centre for their excellent, loving care of our mother.
Thank you to Reverend Mervyn Penfound of Stettler, for officiating Doris’ “Celebration of her Life”, and to family and friends who stood with us and the loving support shown.
Thank you for the cards, donations, food and flowers.
Thank you to the Talbot Homemakers for the lovely luncheon they provided.”
Wilf Sieger
Wes and Joanne Sieger and family,
Marina and Bill Schmidt and family,
Colleen Taylor and family,
Dan and JoAnn Sieger and family.
