Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane

Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane, daughter of Gudni Edward and Jean Borgfjord, was born in Winnipeg, Canada and has always been proud of her Icelandic heritage. Her grandparents, Jon Magnusson Borgfjord and Gudrun Eggertsdottir Borgfjord, emigrated from Iceland in 1888 and were married in Winnipeg. They were homesteaders, and Jon was the first to build a house on their farm (Hvanneyri), along the Icelandic River in Arborg Manitoba. Over the years, Doreen sang many solos in Icelandic for Islendingadagurinn and other Icelandic occasions (Gimli, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Markerville). Following a solo tour of Western Canada and eight years with the Canadian Opera Company, she toured for the Community Concert Association of New York, with her late husband, baritone, Michael McFarlane. She entered seminary, obtained a Master of Divinity, was ordained and served in the US as a pastor for twenty five years. She earned her Ph.D in Bible at the age of fifty three. After serving four years as a seminary professor in Nanjing and Shanghai China, she returned to Canada, and resides in the Niagara region. She currently serves as the pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCIC) in Niagara Falls.

Doreen has five published books. She discovered Icelandic Roots when researching her most recent book, “Leirarskotta, Icelandic Girl Ghost.” This book tells the story of the ghost, known by her family since 1703 (eight generations). Doreen is honored to have been invited to join the genealogical team, and to have such delightful and erudite colleagues on this team. Her goal is to be helpful to Icelandic Roots and to attend and promote this site at as many Icelandic celebrations as she can in the years ahead.

Doreen has three daughters: Deborah, Christine, and Sarah, three fine sons in law, and four granddaughters.