Death is but a blowing
out of the lamp
at the coming of the dawn ~
Alice Helena was born in Sarnke Dolny, Poland to Alex and Maria Kryklywyj. With her mother and sister Natalia she immigrated to Canada in 1928. Her father who had preceded them in 1926 was living in Kitwanga.
One sister and two brothers were soon added to the family. In 1938 she married Fred Doll an Albertan. Together they raised a family and established a garage and service station which they operated for the next 27 years.
Alice was very active in her community, belonging to The Farmers Institute, the local P.T.A. and the Anglican Women's Association.
Twice elected as a trustee to the Terrace School Board she was instrumental in overseeing the building of an amalgamated school in Kitwanga. (Education was her passion, having arrived in Canada, a member of a family speaking no English other than her father who had a limited grasp of the language.) She understood at an early age that education was very important.
Alice was an avid gardener. In Kitwanga she'd rise with the dawn, thus beating the flies to attack the weeds. Alice was a force of nature giving her family observations and instructions nearly to the day of her demise. She was a fount of Skeena area history and a prolific reader. She could make impromptu speeches at family reunions and other social gatherings.
Her good memory allowed her to retain and tell priceless jokes. She was interested in all levels of politics. When her ire was sufficiently aroused, many letters to the newspaper were written, but she was usually persuaded to submit only the less controversial ones.
In 2000, after 72 years in Kitwanga, Alice moved to Pioneer Place in Smithers. She volunteered at the New to You and the Anglican Church Thrift Shop right into her ninety ninth year. A generous women, she contributed to many charities.
She enjoyed playing cards with family and friends and was a fixture at the Legion Thursday evening sessions. Recently she introduced the popular game of "Five Crowns" to the residents of lodge 2". For several years she participated in the BC Senior Games collecting medals in track, discus, shotput and javelin.
During her retirement she travelled to Alaska, the Ukraine, New Zealand and the lower forty-eight which included visiting Nashville Tennessee. She had previously travelled to Europe and Hawaii with her husband.
Alice was pre-deceased by her husband Fred, two young sons Allen and Robert, sister Victoria, brother Ronald, sister in-law Joy, daughter-in-law Mary and close cousin Kay.
She was loved and will be missed by daughter Janet (David) of Smithers, son Eric of Logan Lake, and son Fred (Aline) of Kitwanga, sister Natalia Sargent of Quesnel, and brother Peter of Smithers, grandchildren Lori (Dean) Wigmore of Lacombe AB, Jodi (Rob) Wallace of Red Deer AB, Alex Doll of Logan Lake, BC, Michael (Christine) of Calgary, AB, Robert Doll of Terrace, BC; great grandchildren Shane (Caitlind) Wigmore of Calgary, Sierra (Sam) Chisholm of Edmonton, Sydney Wigmore of Edmonton, Apryl Wallace of Edmonton, Liam and Grace Wallace of Red Deer, Eric and Laura Doll of Calgary, and many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the Smithers Ambulance Service, Dr. Neithammer, Dr. Flynn, the kind nurses of the Smithers Hospital and the Anglican minister Wilfred Alero for such good care in her final days.
The family appreciates those thoughtful people who have expressed condolences via e-mails, phone calls, cards and flowers.
A church service and celebration of life gathering will be in Kitwanga summer of 2021.
Additional Photo(s):
