Mrs. Edith Grace Dyck

Edith was born on March 14th, 1936 to John and Kay Kineshanko in Enderby, British Columbia, and was the youngest of two daughters. Edith spent her early years in Enderby before moving to Vernon, B.C. when she was in grade 3. She attended Vernon Senior High School and was awarded the Commercial Cup for her outstanding business skills. After high school, Edith went to work as the secretary to the Bank Manager at the local Bank of Nova Scotia.

In Grade 11, Edith met the love of her life, John, at church, while he was staying with his brother, Clarence, in Lumby, B.C. John returned to Abbotsford, B.C. for school but couldn’t get Edith, his “Okanagan Peach”, out of his mind. John and Edith dated long distance, with John in Abbotsford and Edith in Vernon, for over 4 years. There were many calls, letters, and long driving trips for them to see each other until they were married on April 20, 1957 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Vernon. Once married, Edith and John bought their first house together in Vancouver, B.C. After working in Vancouver for approximately 5 years, they started their own companies. Edith and John were blessed with two daughters, Carolyn, born in 1962, and Sandra, born in 1965. The family later moved to Burnaby, B.C., where the girls grew up, graduated, and continue to live.

Edith grew up in a Christian home, accepting Christ as her personal Saviour at a young age, and was baptized on March 25, 1951. She became a member of the Emmanuel Regular Baptist Church (later called Emmanuel Baptist Church). Once in Vancouver, Edith & John became charter members of Killarney Park M.B. Church. After the family moved to Burnaby, they attended Willingdon Church, where their daughters grew up enjoying Sunday School, choir and many other youth activities. In 1982, John and Edith donated the digital organ to Willingdon Church, which was the first of many large charitable donations that the couple made.

Edith and John had an exceptional relationship, they worked together, and enjoyed a good married life of over 52 years. Edith used her business and secretarial skills as John’s secretary and business partner. In 1961, they incorporated Parklane Enterprises Ltd. and started building, developing, owning and managing real estate. Their properties included apartments, condominiums, office buildings, shopping centres, a manufactured home park, warehouses, motels, a campground and a ski resort, to name a few. In 1970, they incorporated Skyline Investments Ltd., and they went into the mortgage and finance business; financing many projects and construction developments. The family worked hard together and enjoyed countless wonderful trips and good times.

God blessed Edith and John and in turn they donated to many charities such as the BC Cancer Foundation, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. They also supported many Christian causes including, Living Truth, Union Gospel Mission, Willingdon Church, Faith to Live By and other ministries. Particularly generous support was given to Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre near Chilliwack, B.C. John and Edith donated the Alder Cottage, built and donated the 700 seat Dyck Dining Hall, and the Carmandy Twin Lodges. Additionally, after John passed, Edith fulfilled their wishes by donating to and participating in the building of the Chapel.

After John passed in 2009, Edith continued to live in the family home before moving to the Shannon Oaks Independent Living Residence in Vancouver, where she lived for 10 years. In 2021, due to challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic that caused increased health concerns, and in order to be closer to family, she moved back to Burnaby into the Swedish Assisted Living Residence. Edith was a loving and caring mother and grandmother, she was a gracious hostess and went out of her way to extend her hospitality when she had visitors. In later years, Edith happily greeted and visited with staff and fellow residents. Her happy disposition and sunny smiles were contagious to all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Over the past year Edith’s heart failure slowly got worse and she became more tired and found it increasingly difficult to walk down for meals and visits. What started as a fall on September 30th continued on with unfortunate events in the hospital. Her health deteriorated over the following six weeks and Edith passed away on November 17th, 2022 at 11:39 p.m. in the Burnaby Hospital.

Edith leaves behind a legacy for her family and thousands of others who have benefited and continue to benefit from Edith and John’s very generous philanthropic support.

Edith is survived by her daughters, Carolyn and Sandra, her grandchildren, Robert (wife Taryn) and Amanda, and many other relatives, friends and associates.

She was predeceased by her husband John, her son-in-law Richard, her parents John and Kay and sister Gladys (husband Gus).

Edith will be greatly missed but never forgotten and we are sorrowing, but not as those who have no hope, knowing that we will someday be reunited with Edith in the presence of our Lord and Saviour.

Forever in our Hearts.

In Loving Memory of our Mother, Grandmother and Friend.

The Family of Edith Grace Dyck.