Dora Belanger: A Brief Walk Down Memory Lane

A less detailed obituary appears this week in the "Fresno Bee". Though not a "postcard" of our travels, I'd say the road our mother traveled in life is worthy of a postcard entry.

Left click on any image to see an enlargement.

Dora Mae Dennie Belanger was born on February 4, 1923 to Agnes Goble Dennie and Donald Dennie, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dora passed away on December 26, 2009 in Gilroy, California.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, our mother went to work immediately out of high school for General Electric as an assembly worker. It was the beginning of World War II and many of the members of her small high school class went to war and never returned. She was determined to join the war effort, see the world and leave Fort Wayne.

Dora, right on high school graduation

On her twenty-first birthday, Dora decided it was time to act on her dreams and enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE. Having always hoped to be a nurse, Dora became a medical corpsman (as even women were then called) and almost made RN status before the end of the war. She saw New York City and Washington DC in her pre-assignment travels and training. Her duty station became the medical facility at Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, attached to the Amputee Ward of the hospital. When the hospital ships came in the staff worked around the clock until every injured soldier and sailor was stable and in a bed. Mare Island Naval Hospital was lauded for its progress and work with amputee’s and prosthetic device development.

Being a veteran was one part of Dora’s life that she was immeasurably proud of. Not many women had the nerve to enlist and leave the safety of their hometowns. Several years ago she participated in an educational research project on women in World War II and the military for which she felt quite honored.

At Mare Island she met Johnnie Belanger, a dashing Marine Corps sergeant who was in charge of the main gate at Mare Island. He spotted our mother while checking the ID’s of nurses coming and going through the gate. He completely embarrassed her one day by ordering all the WAVES out of a jitney except Dora. He ordered her to stay behind for “interrogation” purposes. He sat down, chatted as only our father could, asked her out on a date, then reloaded the jitney. Our mother said “yes” to the date, but was perpetually mortified. See the Veteran's Day Postcard below for more on their service.

Dora was a member of the National Rifle Association in high school and claimed to be a crack shot, reportedly her only sport, as she couldn’t throw a ball or ride a bike to save her life. She did play in the snow once as confirmed in this image from what looks like the 1940's.

Dora and John Belanger married on November 24, 1945. As soon as they were mustered out of the Marines and Navy at Mare Island and married, they hopped in a borrowed car and came to Fresno where Johnnie had family. Dora, always a shy and reserved woman, knew only Johnnie when she came to town that first time on a foggy Thanksgiving evening.

Mom told me they first lived in a boarding house near Palm and Belmont as many couples did after the war. They had a bedroom and brief kitchen privileges. When she became pregnant with Pat in 1946 they had to move out.

The young couple bought their first home on Fedora just west of what is now Manchester Center in post-war housing. Manchester Center was a fig orchard and the far north edge of the city. They then produced two children. Our mother never forgot walking to the trolley on Wishon to ride downtown to the Physician’s Building for doctor appointments, pregnant and dragging a three year old as well. She would point out the corner where the bench was anytime we passed by and relate that memory.

Right, the house on Hayes with the 1951 Plymouth, circa 1957

Our father, a retail route salesman for Borden’s, and always an aspiring farmer and carpenter, talked our mother into buying 15 acres west of Fresno in 1951. Back then Hayes Avenue might as well have been in another country, especially with one car. Mom said when Pop went to work that first day, she sat with us under a cotton wood tree and cried her eyes out. It was hot, dry and dusty and she could not imagine why she ever agreed. We just played in the dirt and adapted. So did Mom as she was always wont to do.

Left, under the cotton wood tree on another day

Our mother worked in packing houses and made draperies until we were off to school. She then worked for Chicago Furniture as their bookkeeper and office manager allowing us to spend summer days downtown. She loved Coney Island hot dogs, Norm’s Drive In and the lunch counter at Grant’s, which always was our special lunch treat before a double matinee. In the mid 1960’s she decided to try her hand at her lifelong dream of being a nurse and was accepted into the RN program at Fresno City College. For the mother of two, it was an impossible task, and she eventually chose family over school.

Together our parents turned a little two bedroom farm house into a large and well furnished home and ranch. We nick named the place Puncture Vine Hill as the weeds were relentless. For 18 years our parents worked full time, farmed and built up our home. Our mother made our drapes, upholstered and refinished furniture and made many of our clothes. Home always seemed in a state of remodeling and the sewing machine always out. They were a team.

Below: About 1958 at Chicago Furniture
When they sold the farm in 1968 to move to San Luis Obispo, our parents began a journey of moving every few years searching for the perfect place to live. In 1984, they returned to Fresno to stay, and bought their last house to renovate and enjoy for once. It was actually a finished
project for our father but Mom always had an eye to the next project.

Below, the new dining room Pop built and Mom furnished

Perpetually busy, Dora went to work for my law firm, and learned word processing and computer accounting programs in her late 60’s. Always a good cook, she taught herself gourmet cooking and baking.

Dora led a remarkable life and stayed active until her final retirement in 2007 at the age of 84. Though shy by nature, she loved the camaraderie of the office, being financially productive and the challenge of working in law.

Left: Always creative, she sewed these dresses out of drapery material; Right is Pat's wedding in 1966-height of fashion


With our father’s passing in 2001, Dora continued to work and maintain her home in the historic Fresno High area. Dora moved to Morgan Hill in 2008 to be closer to Pat for the next phase of life and enjoy retirement community living out of the fog and heat of Fresno.

Left: Mom and Pat and right, in about 1956

Dora is preceded in her passing by her husband, John F. Belanger in 2001; her father Donald, her mother Agnes, and her sister Marilyn. She is survived by her son, Patrick J. Belanger of Morgan Hill, his wife Julie, and their children Brian Belanger, D.C., Jason Belanger, Lacy Green and Nikki Green; her daughter Michele Belanger-McNair of Fresno, her husband Joel McNair, and their children Corey McNair and Heather McNair; and Dora’s brother Donald Dennie of Fort Wayne.

Left: Christmas, 1950 (I'm brand new and Pat is a little miffed)

Dora’s family would like to thank the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Fresno, especially Audra Iknoian who took such special care of her and the Veteran’s Medical Center in San Jose. A special thank you goes to the loving staff of Village Green of Gilroy who cared for Dora in her final days.

Right: With first grandchild, Brian, 1972

A celebration of Dora’s great life will be held at on January 9, 2009 at 1 pm. Call 559-222-7282 for information. In lieu of flowers, Dora’s wish would be a contribution to the Veteran of Foreign War’s Charitable Fund, The Disabled Veterans or the American Diabetes Association.

Left: Dora as a majorette, 2nd from left















Right: Irv and Jan Perlitch (Pat's In-laws), Dora and John