Before her passing at 96 years old, Doreen Edna Buhler led a challenging yet extraordinary life. Following her father’s death, she departed from her birthplace in Calahoo, Alta., to start anew in Edmonton, where she worked alongside her husband at his family’s diner. Widowed at 39, Buhler relied on her faith to support her 13 children by working as a baker, pastry chef, and cook at various kitchens across the city.
However, Buhler’s journey did not conclude with her death. In line with her final wishes, she generously donated her body to the University of Alberta’s Anatomical Gifts Program to aid in the education of future medical professionals. During a commemorative service for anatomical donors at the University of Alberta, Brigid Burton fondly described her mother as “incredible” and highlighted the uncharted chapter of her life.
‘A remarkable gift’
Each spring, students and staff assemble on campus to pay tribute to those who have bequeathed their bodies to the program. Hundreds gathered in a campus lecture hall for the annual memorial organized by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. The event featured the reading of donor names, a moment of silence, and the presentation of fresh-cut yellow roses to families in attendance.
Dr. David Williams, chair of the surgery department, expressed gratitude towards donor families for honoring their loved ones’ wishes and aiding in the education of numerous U of A medical students annually. He emphasized the profound educational value of anatomical donations in various health and research programs on campus, including medicine, dentistry, kinesiology, physical therapy, and physical education.
The memorial ceremony provided closure for Burton and her brother Anthony Buhler. Doreen Edna Buhler, who passed away on April 29, 2024, had long shared her intention to donate with her children, as revealed by the siblings in an interview with CBC News. Anthony Buhler regarded her gift as a final testament to her extraordinary life journey.
Having met her husband Patrick at his family’s diner on Jasper Avenue, Buhler raised their children in an apartment above the establishment. Renowned for her daily homemade pies, she continued to work as the head cook at St. Vincent’s Convent and later in the kitchens of the Court of Queen’s Bench following her husband’s sudden demise in 1967.
Burton described her mother as a resilient woman of faith, viewing her act of donation as an extension of the generosity and self-sacrifice that defined her life. With the donation process now complete, the family plans to inter her ashes beside her husband, marking a poignant closure to her legacy.
The University of Alberta’s Anatomical Gifts Program, established since the inception of the medical school in 1921, receives between 50 and 80 donations annually, with over 10,000 individuals having expressed their intent to donate. Program co-ordinator Jason Papirny highlighted the diverse backgrounds of donors, ranging from university employees to individuals seeking to continue teaching even posthumously.
The donations, spanning one to two years, provide students with invaluable hands-on learning experiences to comprehend anatomical structures, disease progression, and treatment methods. Donors can opt to have their remains returned to their families or undergo cremation at a designated plot maintained by the university at Westlawn Funeral Home Cemetery in Edmonton.
‘Absolute courage’
Margaret Juryn, a second-year medical student, emphasized the unparalleled educational value of training with real human bodies, which offers insights that textbooks cannot replicate. During the memorial service, Juryn expressed gratitude on behalf of students for the courageous choice made by donors in entrusting their remains to further medical education.
The act of donating one’s body to science was lauded as an act of “absolute courage,” requiring vulnerability and a profound commitment to advancing medical knowledge. Juryn commended the donors for their bravery in making this selfless decision.