DOREEN FRANCES DENIS

DOREEN FRANCES DENIS
Doreen Frances Denis passed away peacefully on Aug 13th, 2026 at age 86, at St. Joesph’s Hospice in Medicine Hat, Alberta with Dawn and Ron by her side.
Doreen (McLeod-Brilz) Denis was born on September 21, 1939, in Frontier, Saskatchewan. As the eldest of five children born to Neil and Amelia McLeod, she brought a lifetime of warmth, care, and steady love to her family.
Doreen’s early education began in Claydon, Saskatchewan. After completing Grade 8, she moved with her family to establish new roots in the farming community of Delia, Alberta.
Doreen went on to receive her teaching certificate at the U. of Calgary, beginning her career at Our Lady of Assumption in Bowness. She met Leo Brilz in Calgary, and following their marriage in 1961, they established their home in Medicine Hat.
They had three children, Dawn and Grant, along with Dawn’s twin sister, Dianne who passed shortly after birth. When her children were of school age, Doreen obtained her official degree in education, giving up some of her summer months to study. Doreen taught at St. Michael’s and St Mary’s, but spent the majority of her career teaching high school English at Monsignor McCoy; Julius Caesar being her favourite play to teach. For years, Doreen was also coordinator of the Grand March for graduating classes, always coming up with new and creative configurations. During this time, Doreen’s passion for Bridge deepened, with a particular emphasis on “Duplicate”. She, along with fellow colleagues, often used their lunch hours to enjoy and improve their card skills.
An adventurous home cook, Doreen loved trying new recipes. However, if a culinary experiment fell short of her perfectionist standards, she would dismiss it with her famous catchphrase: ‘Well, that’s not a keeper.’ Then she was on to her next creation in the kitchen.
Family and friends were the center of Doreen’s world, and she expressed that love by hosting countless amazing dinners and celebrating every special occasion. As a true extrovert a gene she somehow skipped passing down to her children, she absolutely thrived when surrounded by people. Whether she was going to parties, opening her home to visitors, or participating in her many activities (curling, swimming, clogging, line-dancing), Doreen was always happiest in the heart of the action.
Doreen was deeply involved in the lives of her granddaughters, Sydney and Hannah, enthusiastically sharing in their favourite activities. When the girls were younger, the trio bonded each summer over swimming, playing cards, endless laughter, and long conversations. Hannah fondly recalls being Grandma’s chief baking assistant, dragging out the large rectangular flour tub to build castles with a spoon while Doreen interrupted for the occasional “dash” or cup of flour.
Though miles apart for most of the year, Sydney’s annual visits were highly anticipated highlights where they would roll out noodles for Doreen’s beloved homemade soups and bake special Ranger cookies.
Both granddaughters walked away with a lifetime of sweet memories of their Grandma and their unforgettable kitchen adventures.
~Their bonds were “held fast” (The McLeod Clan Motto) by Doreen throughout the girls’ lives, as she celebrated their milestones and many accomplishments with immense pride and joy.~
Although Doreen was not exactly musically inclined in the singing department she was known to occasionally “fish” for the right notes during Mass she was a fantastic dancer, once famously dancing on a bar table in a European pub. She also deeply enjoyed live theatre, especially when it meant watching her granddaughter Hannah’s musical performances.
The live Met Opera broadcasts held at Cineplex grew into a cherished tradition. For these outings, she always packed a delicious lunch to share with her husband, Pius, and their granddaughter, Hannah, who occasionally joined them.
And as a faithful Mass parishioner, she also loved listening to the choirs sing. Sometimes they even got graded….
Remember she was a teacher!
Camping trips with the McLeod Clan were a highlight of her summer. These featured gourmet cuisine, lots of wine, and laughter into the wee hours of the morning. Doreen also enjoyed travelling, but her trips to Italy and Spain remained her favourites.
Retirement brought Doreen the wonderful gift of time to fully embrace her passion for Duplicate bridge. It became a joyful obsession, and nothing came between her and the game she loved so much. Doreen spent countless happy hours at the Veiner Centre honing her skills, but what she cherished most was being part of such a vibrant community. The club was a second home to her a place where fun but fierce competition existed, and people near and dear to her heart came together. She loved her bridge family and the special bonds they shared. As such an accomplished player, Doreen was a familiar name at the top of the Med Hat Duplicate Bridge leaderboards and in the Med Hat News. She was widely recognized for her sharp mind and strategic skill; and admired by the Club as a true expert.
Bridge also brought romance into Doreen’s life when she met Pius Denis across the card table, leading to their marriage in 1996. Over the next 30 years, they shared a beautiful life filled with travel, golf, hosting family meals, and yes, of course, duplicate bridge!
A gifted mentor, Doreen loved passing her knowledge of the game onto others, and sharing this passion with her daughter and son-in-law. Up until the age of 85, she delighted in teaching them. Doreen would instruct on the specific, albeit mind-boggling conventions while Pius would share all the nuances. Hence, Doreen and Pius, while highly respecting each other’s knowledge and skill, could rarely play together as partners. Though Ron & Dawn still claim ‘newbie’ status, they owe their growth as players to Doreen’s expert coaching and encouragement.
And finally it must be shared that Doreen belonged to a truly legendary clan of siblings. They were deeply proud of their combined Scottish and Polish heritage, but even more proud of the bonds they shared. Absolutely nothing not wildly differing political views or opposing hockey allegiances could dent their fierce love for one another. Their connection was fueled by a near-constant barrage of phone calls, texts, Google Meets, and family gatherings, where everyone genuinely cared about each other’s lives and support was always unconditionally provided.
In Nov. 2023, Doreen was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s Plus. She battled this illness bravely, taking each loss of her physical health with acceptance; this required resilience and humility. Her family was a strong source of strength and she was grateful for every FaceTime or Alexa call, Google Meet, and personal visit. Doreen’s family also wishes to thank Charlotte Jobb for her countless visits and support of Doreen. She remained a true friend through Doreen’s last days.
Doreen continued to attend Mass at Meadowlands, and then South Country where she last resided. Her faith brought her comfort as she believed in the power of prayer, the recitation of the rosary, and being part of a Christian community.
Doreen is survived by her daughter Dawn (Ron) Blackmer, and her son, Grant (Linda) Brilz, her husband Pius, and her granddaughters Hannah and Sydney, as well as her siblings Barry, (affectionately known as the Godfather of the McLeod Clan,) his wife Jan, Ron McLeod (Betty Manick) Sam McLeod (Sue Nash), and Shelley Osness (Roger), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her first husband, and Dawn’s twin sister.
Dawn & Ron wish to express gratitude to the nurses on 5 West at Med Hat Hospital for their care of Doreen, most especially Rebecka and Teri who poured their hearts into making Doreen’s short time as comfortable as possible before she was transferred to St Joseph’s. They also express heartfelt thanks to Dr Meiring & Dr Jonker. These professionals cared for Doreen with such dignity and compassion, allowing her to make the journey from this earth to Heaven. Their exceptional expertise and genuine humanity for Doreen, Dawn, & Ron, will be forever remembered.
Prayers & eulogy for Doreen will be held Fri. Sept. 18th @ 7:00 p.m. at Holy Family Parish. A musical visual tribute will also be shared.
Doreen’s funeral Mass will held Sat. Sept 19th @ 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Parish.
In lieu of flowers, please support the Parkinson’s Plus vaccine research at the University of Alberta. Led by Dr. Holger Wille and funded in part by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, this research is dedicated to finding & developing a vaccine for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
Please visit https://uabgive.ca/WilleResearch to make a gift online.
Or send donations payable to the “University of Alberta” to the Office of the Recording Secretary | 3-600, 10230 Jasper Ave NW | Edmonton AB T5J 4P6, noting your donation is in memory of Doreen Frances Denis.
For any additional assistance, please email: giving@ualberta.ca
(Condolences may be expressed at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral
Chapel Crematorium &
Reception Facility
901 – 13th Street S.W.
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 4V4
Phone 403-527-6455
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