As my parents, Penny and David Taylor, have already shared, our family spent many summer days paddling the lakes of Ontario with Mollie and Dennis. It was usually my little brother who went in the middle of their canoe—somehow they maintained a rueful and patient delight for his chatterbox ways. So, my childhood memories of Dennis are mostly at campsites, on portage and at lunch stops on the various lichen-crusted expanses of rock (you can become quite a connoisseur of the perfect lunch rock). 

My fondest memory of Dennis comes from one of those lunch breaks. Sitting on our PFDs on a bare swath of Canadian Shield, eating our Kielbasa sausage, Ritz crackers and cheese, we suddenly heard a vigorous thumping, a low, rapid beating, like some kind of underground organic motor starting up. Was it coming from just behind us in the woods, or from miles off? Impossible to say. Either way, at 9 or so years old, I’d never heard it before. But, ever ready with knowledge of the forest, Dennis explained: it was the thrumming of the Ruffed Grouse.  He had me at “thrumming”–what’s not to love about a word like “thrumming”?–but before I could even ask the next question he was fully upright, hands tucked into his armpits, chin up, and, with startling speed and pizazz, stomping his leather boots, circling on the spot, flapping his little elbow wings, jutting his head about. The rest of us stared, agog. 

To this day, any mention of grouse (or partridges, or any woodsy fowl), or the good fortune of hearing that unmistakable sound again, brings Dennis vividly to mind. But with his passing, I realize now that his rather stunning display stuck with me not just as a comical educational moment, but as one of those small but unpredictably lasting acts that carried what I knew of him after so many utterly-taken-for-granted canoe trips–his steadiness, his eagerness to share what he knew and loved, and his ready spark of good humour. I feel so lucky that he was a part of my childhood.

Very sad to hear of Dennis' passing, I remember him as a warm and gentle man. I have fond memories of my sharing with Dennis and his family their summer vacation in 1975, particularly the warm days in the canoes in Killarney Park, Lake Huron. My thoughts are with the family at this sad time. Michael Wood

I should have mentioned in my earlier submission that  Dennis and I shared our courting days 70 years ago he with Mollie Thorne and I with Nora Hardcastle. The girls lived next door to each other and we enjoyed many good walks together but particularly enjoyable were the Old Time Dances that we went to at the Scout Hut and other venues around. I well remember long walks home late at night, well elevenish, from dances at The Temperance Hall in Cleckheaton, about four miles from home. We all so much enjoyed each other’s company. Such happy times.
Adrian.


Our deepest condolences from the Fisher family.

My deepest condolences to Mollie, Karen, Diane and your families. 

Dennis was such a pleasure to be around and I’m grateful to have known him.  We shared many laughs over the last few years,  he was always able to make me smile.  I’m going to miss him terribly. 

RIP my friend. ❤️

Dennis lived in a house on the top moor at Birkenshaw  when I first new him. I lived a few hundred yards away in Moorlands Road. Three of us used to go on rambles and bike rides together when we were Rover Scouts in 1st  Spen Valley Scout Troop.  (Birkenshaw), in the late 1940s, the other being Kenneth Walker. Dennis and I both had birthdays in March mine being on the 3rd, but in 1931, Sorry to hear of his passing. ‘Gone Home, in Scout parlance. Much sympathy to the family.
Adrian Wood

I first met Dennis an first floor at the villa i was doing nourishment he ask me if he can get a cup of tea with milk and a cookie i said sure from that movement i never forget what he take in his tea, he was a very active man love to go for walks  he will be miss . R.I.P DENNIS . My condolences to the family god bless

I met Dennis the first day I started  working at Grace Villa and I immediately was drawn to his infectious smile and his big heart. He’d always greet me with a “It’s cleaning time is it?” and we’d end up chatting while he completed his puzzles. One time he kindly told me that we’d forgotten the other half of his PJs, only for him to come and unnecessarily apologize as he found them a short while later. He was insistent that I pass his apologies on to the entire laundry team. He never failed to make me smile just with his presence and I will deeply miss him.  My deepest condolences to his family, may he live on forever in your hearts and memories 💜🧡

Dennis was a kind and thoughtful man.  He was a resident  at Grace Villa on second floor where I was a PSW and we had many happy times. We talked about England as my husband was raised in Yorkshire. When I  was injured at work  I spent a lot of my shift visiting with him and Mollie. I would  escort them to various activities and spend time with them on the patio. Since retiring last April I have thought  about them  both.  My prayers go out to you and your family.  Such a gentle soul - RIP
Lynda Dunn PSW

We will miss Dennis's smile and laughter.  He was such a gentleman and gentle soul. It was a pleasure to know him and enjoy his company. We will miss you.
Margo and Ian Dobie and family.

I will greatly miss my conversations with Dennis and watching him sit and enjoy doing his puzzles.

We first met Dennis through the Iroquois Canoe Club in 1976.
 We shared many memorable canoe trips with Mollie & Dennis through the years. They would often take either our daughter, Karen, or our son Christopher in their canoe to lighten our load. Dennis taught Christopher how to fish and then clean it. I think we got a mouthful each.
Later, when our children were grown up, Mollie & Dennis joined our family trips and then when they could no longer canoe Christopher bought theirs - MODENKARDI, so now when we go on canoe trips he will always be remembered.



My very sincere condolences to Mollie, his two daughters and all family members.  
My memories of Mollie and Dennis go back 53 years as we met each other when Mollie and I worked together in our first job after we immigrated the same year, 1966, and we kept up this beautiful friendship over the miles and the years.   Dennis was the same age as my husband and they visited us on Vancouver Island 6 weeks before my husband's death.
Dennis was a wonderful kind person and will be greatly missed.
R.I.P. Dennis.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Dennis Bawden

7 mars 1930 – 15 décembre 2020

Cresmount Funeral Home - Fennell Chapel

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