Eileen BERGMAN

BORG (Bergman), Eileen 2008-03-10 Eileen passed away on March 9th at St. Joseph‘s Hospice Unit after a 10 year battle with colon cancer. She was always the optimistic one and lived each day being happy and hoping for “just one more day”. Eileen loved her life and fought the good fight. She was born on June 24, 1947 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the daughter of Sigurd and Margaret Bergman. She grew up in Atikokan, Ontario and left there in 1964 to live with her grandparents in Winnipeg. She worked for Winnipeg Photo for a few years and met and married her first husband in 1965. After their son was born, Eileen divorced and became a single mom to her son Eddie and they returned to Thunder Bay where she attended Confederation College in 1968 to take the Medical Secretary course. She started working at Thunder Bay Regional Hospital (Laboratory) in 1970 and worked there for ten years. She was looking to pursue a different career path so she left there and went to work for the Port Arthur Clinic where she learned a lot about computers. She was at the clinic for 3 years. It was at this time that she met and fell madly in love with Darcy Borg and they married in 1984. She than returned to work her remaining years at Thunder Bay Regional Hospital till illness forced her to retire in 2003. Eileen loved all animals and was a spokesperson for any animal that needed help. She was totally devoted to her own pets and got much enjoyment from them. Eileen loved to fish and enjoyed their camp at Lac Du Mille Lac with her husband, Darcy. They enjoyed many happy years there. She also loved to watch TV, lunch with friends, play on her computer but mostly, just to walk Twister and enjoy her love of life, nature watching her flowers grow. Eileen has many friends here in Thunder Bay and abroad. She had her wish fulfilled to see Daniel O‘Donnell in concert in Chicago and again in Branson where she had the pleasure of Daniel‘s company at a dinner in his honor, with her longtime friend, Norma Holbrook. She loved to watch her children and grandchildren grow up and accomplish their dreams and to know that “anything is possible” in life. She was so proud of her son, her stepchildren and always showed them and told them how much she loved them. Eileen also found her long lost niece, Julie Bergman in 2004 through the internet. They spent time with each other during the summer of 2004 during which Eileen and Julie enjoyed much happiness. Eileen had time to contemplate her life and realize what is and is not important and how lucky she was to be a part of something so much bigger than all of us. She loved working at the hospital and her co-workers were so much a part of her. She always stressed how much love she felt for them and how distressed she was knowing that she would never be returning to work. Her job was so much a big part of her and happiness. After coming to terms with this, she accepted it and continued into the next phase of her life. Last year Eileen enjoyed a fabulous trip to Hawaii with her husband Darcy‘s twin sister Geraldine and Geraldine‘s husband Bob and their family. This trip provided Eileen great joy and was filled with fond memories which she talked about right up until her final days. Eileen is survived by her husband Darcy; son Edward Blondeau (Donna Lubuk); beloved animals, Twister and Lucky; her mother, Margaret Bergman, Atikokan; brother, Brian Bergman (Donna); sister, Shirley Mosley (Jim). Also surviving are Stepdaughters Darcia Borg-Panasyk (Scott); Janey Puurula (Victor); stepson, Darren Borg (Marianne). Grandchildren are Alicia, Danielle, Terri-Lyn Blondeau; Ashley Borg (Adrian Hagar); Emily and Elias Puurula; Jessica Borg-Green; nieces Roslyn Bergman, Julie Bergman, and nephews Ryan Mosley and Mark Cavcar. She was predeceased by her father and niece Krysta Mosley. We would like to thank the nurses at the Hospice Unit for their compassionate care of Eileen and to Darren, the 4th year nursing student for his kindness and care of Eileen. According to Eileen‘s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Eileen‘s life will be held on Wednesday, March 12th at 1:00 pm at Castlegreen Community Centre at 213 Castlegreen Drive. Memorial donations can be made to the Thunder Bay District Humane Society.