Obituary of ELMA DYCK
ELMA DYCK
Elma Dyck, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Bethania Personal Care Home in Winnipeg.
She is survived by her four children: John (Gini) Dyck, Garry (Faith) Dyck, Darlene Buchanan, and Reg (Kerry) Dyck, 14 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren; her siblings Hilda Sukkau, Mary Driedger, Ella (Wes) Sawatzky, Leonard (Ann) Penner and sisters-in-law Martha Penner and Margaret Penner. She was pre-deceased by her husband John, son-in-law Ernie Buchanan, brothers David Penner and Ben Penner, sister Susan Friesen, brothers-in-law George Friesen, Harry Sukkau, and John Driedger. Burial will take place at Sage Creek Cemetery.
Elma Dyck (nee Penner) was born to David and Mary Penner on September 1, 1932 on a farm just south of Plum Coulee. She was the fifth child in what was to become a family of eight. A year after she was born the family settled in the village of Gnadenthal. She loved to sing and was active in the Gnadenthal Girls’ Choir as well as the church choir and various community presentations.
As a young girl, Elma spent a memorable week one summer with one of her girlfriends at Gimli Bible Camp. She often reminded us that she earned her week at camp by memorizing Scripture, which included the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Travelling to Gimli by train in those days included a stopover in Winnipeg. That gave them enough time in the city for a new experience and some excitement as the two country girls, all by themselves, took a streetcar in the city to the home of her friend’s sister. On the train from Winnipeg to Gimli the conductor listened as the girls sang some songs and then treated them all to ice cream at the next stop.
In 1948 Elma met John Dyck and on May 22, 1952 they were married in Gnadenthal with Rev. F. F. Sawatzky officiating. They lived in Winkler where she was a faithful and devoted wife and homemaker. They attended the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church where she was active in the Women’s Missionary Society.
In 1960 they moved to Winnipeg. In spite of that move sixty miles away, she returned to Winkler in September of that year to give birth to their youngest child, Reginald. In 1962 John and Elma moved into their own home in Windsor Park.
As their children grew they became more and more active at Bethel Mennonite Church, through its various location and name changes. Elma served on the Pioneer Girls Committee and in the Sunday School office and was active in the Women’s Missionary Society. Together with John she was instrumental in establishing Bethel Place, a home for seniors, where she also loved to volunteer as well as serve on the Admissions Committee. Years later when she was looking for a retirement home she avoided the move to Bethel, observing, “There are too many Mennonites there!”
Soon her volunteer activities included the MCC Thrift Store, which her granddaughters renamed “Oma’s Boutique.” She was very proud of her plaque which commemorated forty years of service there.
In 1972 she began to operate a Mini Mart convenience food store in St. Vital. She enjoyed the interaction with customers and often came home with interesting stories! It also provided an opportunity to make new friends.
In 2014 she decided that the previous winter had been so severe that she could not endure one more winter in her Windsor Park home. A suite became available at Lindenwood Manor in September, which proved very timely as it became apparent that she was suffering from dementia. At Lindenwood she made many friends and especially enjoyed the hymn sing on Friday mornings. Her dementia continued to make life difficult for her to the point where she required additional care and attention. She moved to Harmony Court at Riverwood Square in February of 2018. Needing more care she moved to Bethania Personal Care Home in June of 2020.
Mom loved to sing. She had the words to many hymns memorized. She was constantly singing while she did her housework. When we were preparing for a long car ride she would remember to bring our copy of The Mennonite Hymnary and we would all sing as we rode along. Even recently when she attended a weekly hymn sing she would brush aside the hymn book to let us know that she knew the words, in spite of her dementia. Sometimes she would sing the German words on purpose to remind us that she knew those, too!
Mom also loved to laugh and had a great sense of humour. She spoke often about her own Dad’s wit and the fun he had with his children. Of course, contrary to what her siblings might think, she told every story in a way that assured us that she was Grandpa’s favourite. This was surely one of the things that was an attraction to her husband John who had a very austere upbringing. She claimed that she was the one who taught him to laugh and sometimes had to point out to him what the joke was. Even with her dementia she continued to tease and was always looking for something to laugh about. We miss always miss that about her!
A family service will be held.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de ELMA
DYCK 1932 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba