Doreen Edna Buhler’s life was one of challenges and triumphs before she passed away at the age of 96. Born on a farm in Calahoo, Alta., she later moved to Edmonton with her husband to work at their family diner after her father’s death. Widowed at 39, she single-handedly raised her 13 children by working as a baker and cook in various kitchens across the city.
In a unique final act, Buhler decided to donate her body to the University of Alberta’s Anatomical Gifts Program to contribute to medical education. At a commemorative service for anatomical donors at the university, her daughter, Brigid Burton, praised her mother’s selflessness and described her as an extraordinary individual with a whole other untold chapter in her life.
The annual memorial service at the university, attended by students and faculty, pays tribute to those who have donated their bodies for educational purposes. Dr. David Williams, chair of the surgery department, expressed gratitude to the donor families for their invaluable contribution to the education of medical students.
Anatomical donations like Buhler’s facilitate learning in various health and research programs on campus, benefitting students in fields such as medicine, dentistry, kinesiology, physical therapy, and physical education. The program coordinator, Jason Papirny, highlighted the significance of these donations, emphasizing that they provide a unique learning experience for students that textbooks cannot replicate.
Buhler’s decision to donate her body was a continuation of her life’s legacy of generosity and selflessness. Her family, including her daughter and son, found closure in honoring her wishes and plan to lay her ashes to rest beside her late husband. The Anatomical Gifts Program at the University of Alberta, in operation since 1921, receives between 50 and 80 donations annually and has been instrumental in educating thousands of students over the years.