Doreen WILSON

DE BOER, Doreen Doreen (Wilson) De Boer, 93, of Palm Springs, passed away Feb. 11, 2009 in Palm Springs. She was born October 24, 1915 in Victoria, Canada. She married Henrik De Boer on Feb. 12, 1950 in Sydney, Australia. She was a singing actress who was well known as Doreen Wilson. At the age of 18, she had her own show in Vancouver, Canada. She then moved to Los Angeles to the Civic Light Orchestra, then with the show "Song of Norway " which went to Broadway, she took over the leading role of Countess and travelled all over the country with it. While in Boston, the Williamsons from Australia heard her and booked her for Australia, where she met her husband, Henrik De Boer who was portraying the singing role of Rikaard. Doreen is survived by daughters, Tessa Hamilton of Garden Grove, CA; Nancy Day and her husband, Les Day of Coarsegold, CA, and son, Pete De Boer, Palm Springs, CA; sister, Jo Clarke, Canada; four grandchildren, Alexis Hamilton, Christen, Curtis and Dana Day. Doreen was the daughter of Dorothy Wilson, who founded The Russian Ballet School of Dancing in Victoria in 1927. The school's annual recitals, held at the Royal Theatre, were very popular among theatregoers of the 1930's. Doreen starred in these productions both as a dancer and singer. She studied voice with Madam Eva Baird in Victoria. A Memorial Service was held Feb. 18, 2009 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Palm Springs. 566132 Published in the Victoria Times-Colonist on 10/24/2009