Mrs. Winnifred K. Daye

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Winnifred (Winnie) K. Daye, who passed away peacefully with family by her side. Mom is forever loved by Barb, Marlene (Brian), Sharon, Dave (Norma), six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Mom was affectionately known as Mom, Babe, Granny, and GG by her family. Mom was predeceased by her loving husband, Alfred (Alf), in 1992.

A special heartfelt ”Thank You” to our sister Sharon, who provided full-time dedication, support, comfort, and care to Mom and Dad in their final years.

Our Family would like to extend a sincere “Thank You” to the Vancouver Coastal Home Care Team, Lions Gate Hospital staff, and the wonderful North Shore Hospice Team, who all gave Mom fantastic care and compassion.

Our hearts are broken, and Mom’s love and memories will remain with us forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 29th at 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Lynn Valley Royal Canadian Legion, 1630 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver Memorial donations can be made to: Lions Gate Hospital Foundation @ www.lghfoundation.com Memo: North Shore Hospice Or the charity of your choice.

A Life Well Lived

Mom was born in 1927 on the family farm just outside Craik, Saskatchewan, the youngest of eight children born to Ole and Karolina. Moms father, Ole, had immigrated in 1900 from Hovet, Norway, with his brother Andre to go where their father Ole had told them that for $10.00 you could get a quarter section of land in “The Promised Land”. Their journey took them by ship from Norway to Glasgow, Scotland, to New York City—a voyage of 23 days. The brothers worked on farms in Minnesota and North Dakota before Ole saved enough to buy his own land.

In 1910, Ole married Karolina from Harmony, Minnesota. The couple sold their Minnesota farm and moved to Craik, Saskatchewan, where they purchased land and raised their family. Mom—affectionately nicknamed “Babe”—grew up immersed in farm life. She spoke Norwegian at home until age six, when she started school and learned English.

Farm days were filled with hard work, starting at 4:30 AM with the simple joys: growing wheat, oats and barley, raising cattle, pigs, and chickens, and caring for twelve Percheron work horses. One of Mom’s regular chores was riding her horse “Beauty,” accompanied by her dog “Sport,” to take the cattle to pasture in the morning and bring them back at night. Other farm chores included brushing the cows and horses. The family was musical—Mom loved playing piano and guitar, while her siblings played violin, mandolin, saxophone, and more. She and two brothers often performed at local dances, earning $6 a night ($2 each), which was good money in those days. Moms weekends at the farm with her siblings were riding her horse Beauty, playing cards and instruments, swimming in the slough and in the winter, snow skiing down the valley and doing jumps.

Mom completed Grade 10 before leaving the farm at sixteen to attend Success College in Regina. She worked in the Treasury Department at the Saskatchewan Parliament Building. At age twenty, she moved to Burnaby, British Columbia, to live with her sister Bessie. It was there, at a dance in Vancouver, that she met her future husband, Alf. They married in 1950 at Dad’s brother Bill’s home in North Vancouver.

North Vancouver became their lifelong home. Mom and Dad bought a double lot with a small house at the back and built a new family home at the front, completing it in 1958. They raised their four children there on a close-knit dead-end street where Dad’s siblings and mother also lived for a time. Everyone on the street felt like family—related or not, they were all called “aunt” or “uncle.”

Life was rich with family traditions: picnics at Ambleside, street parades, baseball games, block parties, bonfires, summer camping trips to the Shuswap, and fishing at Loon Lake and beyond, travelling back to the farm and visiting with family. Reno was a favorite with Mom and Dad.

Mom took up oil painting at age sixty-eight at the North Shore Seniors Centre, where she made many friends and created beautiful works that now grace family homes across generations. Other joys included sewing, puzzles, solitaire, piano, guitar, cooking, baking, Saturday night card games, and her beloved country music. She also enjoyed travels to Hawaii, Palm Springs and Mexico with family.

Their home was always open—family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends dropped by unannounced, filling the space with laughter and happy memories. Mom was caring, kind, and sweet, with a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious belly laugh. Strong and determined, she embodied the spirit of a true Norwegian Viking. Above all, her family was her greatest passion and joy.