Staff, friends and family at the MLP Residence in Picton celebrated the 100th birthday of Doris Istead a couple of days early last week with a huge cake and a good party. A larger celebration was held in Rotary Hall on the actual day, Saturday 15 August.

MP Chris Malette, MPP Tyler Alsopp, and Councillor Phil St-Jean were on hand to mark the occasion with a few words. Two of Doris’s four children, Sherrie and Lori were present, with Rick on the way. But it was Doris’s great friend, June Fisher, who stole the show with a moving speech read from six pages of handwritten notes. We are pleased to present this heartfelt tribute to Doris, a great friend to many and a shining light in both the MLP Residence and County community. We couldn’t have said it any better.

Doris Istead

by June Fisher

Doris was born August 15, 1926  in Toronto. Her mother who was a nurse and her dad a railway conductor. She was the youngest of 4.

The world was gifted with someone very special, one who knew how to enjoy life, bring joy and happiness to others, and always cheerful with a charming smile. A true enjoyment of life and its pleasures — a joie de vivre!

One day, Doris and her best girlfriend were riding on the merry-go-round at Synnyside Park in Toronto. They both happened to notice a couple of good looking fellows in air force uniforms, who seemed to be focused on the girls. So they got off the merry-go-round and met with the two good-looking airmen. Then decided to go for a walk together. This ended up in many walks together and Doris says, “it was love at first sight” and she was “smitten.” Doug was not only good looking, but he had a sense of humour and loved to dance.

Two years later, Doris and her true love were married, on April 19, 1947. His surname was Istead and hers was Haystead. Can you imagine the fun talking and teasing about that? “Hay and I”.

Letter to the Editor, Picton Gazette,
August 31, 2021, on the occasion of Doris’s 95th birthday
Being 95 isn’t that much fun, not like being 59!
Except that I have received so many lovely messages
from friends and many people I don’t even know.
I don’t have internet so Hedy Campbell took the time to
write the names on a card for me. Thank you so much Hedy.
Thanks to my family for making the weekend special for me.
And thanks to my close friend who took me to Lake on the Mountain for lunch.
Thanks again for brightening my day.

Doris Istead

They moved from Toronto to his family farm in Bloomfield, where they had four children. Doug’s parents were Morley Istead and Vera Kleinstuber, who operated a successful farm and greenhouse business just north of Bloomfield on County Road 1.

Can you imagine a young bride from big city Toronto adjusting to life on a farm in the beautiful County? She learned to cook on a woodstove. In Doris’s words, “Oh Yes, there were many challenges but when you are in love everything goes well.”

A true love story it was, with the marriage lasting over 50 years until the passing of her beloved husband.

Doris has a booming social life at MLP residence where she has a host of friends come visit. She loves entertaining guests for tea or meals. She spent many happy hours volunteering at Bloomfield United Church and in the community. Her quiet faith in God is very important to her. Among many things, she always loved baking, socializing, gardening, dancing and always fun at a party — she never misses our planned parties here at MLP.

If you knock on Doris’s door even today, as a centenarian, she will instantly invite you to come in and she quickly puts the kettle on. When Doris moved to MLP a few years ago — she was 97 — I tried several times to have a visit with her and welcome her to MLP and help orientate her. Unfortunately, she was always too busy, always having friends and family in visiting. I was told that everyone in the County knows Doris Istead!

Doris, you are the special one we all look up to — we admire you and deeply respect you and we hold you in high esteem. You are an inspiration and a great role model. We all learn from your example and from your great zest for life. You inspire us all to be better individuals. Your love and kindness have touched our lives, and we will forever be thankful. You teach us how to age gracefully. One hundred years of love, laughter, and many, many memories…what an incredible journey you have had!