Skip to content

Doreen AITKEN

September 16, 2016

AITKEN, Doreen Anne

1933 - 2006


A long time resident of Langley, Doreen Aitken, passed away in Vernon on September 17, 2016. Born in Vernon on June 15, 1933, she was one of five daughters of Thomas and Edith Aitken.

Predeceased by her parents and sister Margaret, she is survived by three sisters, Olive, Betty and Esther, and by good friend Cindie Higgins who became like a member of the family.

Following high school graduation, Doreen joined the RCAF and was stationed with NORAD in Quebec. After a few years she left the Air Force to enter nurses' training at the Royal Jubilee, Victoria, and there she found her niche. Upon graduating as a registered nurse, Doreen came to work at Langley Memorial Hospital under Miss Marion Ward, Director of Nursing, but left Langley for a short time to do private duty nursing in Vancouver, and also nurse in Campbell River. Returning to Langley Memorial, she set up and became the first head nurse of the Intensive Care Unit opened in 1968. Later she was in charge of the hospital's Central Supply Department.

Doreen was an exceptionally efficient and caring nurse. She had the ability to immediately recognize an emergency in both the Intensive Care Unit and on patient wards. She also had a gift for repairing medical equipment, was very conscious of the hospital budget, and was an advocate for reducing waste in hospitals. She retired from nursing in 1989. Her main hobby, metal detecting, afforded Doreen many hours of pleasure on treasure hunts with her club, and recovering lost items for friends.


A gathering to share memories of Doreen will be held on Tuesday, October 11th at 1:30pm in the hall at U.C.O.L. (formerly Sharon United Church)

at Five Corners, in Murrayville, Langley BC.



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.