Linda Darlene Dyck

She was born on June 7, 1947 in Winnipeg Manitoba. Linda is survived by her daughters Karen Dyck (Cayman Islands) and Heather Corrigan (Chilliwack) along with son-in-law Todd Corrigan, and grandchildren Ellenor, Zackary, Mallory and Julia. Linda is also survived by her sister Pat Warburton and brother-in-law Eric (Carman, Manitoba) and brother Mark Little and sister-in-law Linda (Winnipeg, Manitoba). Linda was predeceased by her husband Douglas Wayne Dyck, who passed from cancer in August 2011. A celebration of Linda’s life will be held once social gatherings are allowed.

Linda grew up in Winnipeg with her father Harold Charles Little, mother Edith May Little (nee Watson) and her two siblings. After high school in 1965, Linda worked as a book keeper. She met Doug in Flin Flon, Manitoba at a wedding on June 14, 1969 when she was 22. They got engaged on November 14, 1969 and were married on June 20, 1970. Doug was Linda’s first and only love of her life. In June 1973 they had daughter Heather and in October 1976 they had daughter Karen. Doug’s job as a mechanic led them to build their own home in Manitou, Manitoba, a small community in south western Manitoba. Doug and Linda moved their family to Manitou in 1977 and spent the next 12 years there raising their family. During this time, Doug and Linda were involved in their community in many ways: in the Manitou Mennonite Brethern Church, in the local skating club, swimming pool and their girls’ schools. Doug and Linda spent each summer taking the girls camping throughout Canada and the United States. It was also during this time in Manitou that Linda was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an anti-inflammatory disease that her mother died from in the early 1980’s. This disease would stay with Linda for the rest of her life. Various medications and treatments were tried throughout the years with varying results.

In 1985, Doug had an opportunity to work as a mechanic instructor at the Okanagan Community College in Kelowna, BC, so the Dyck family moved across Canada. Linda obtained a job as a book keeper for Wendy’s restaurant, a job she had for 20 years. Once again the Dyck’s became involved in the life of Kelowna: belonging to Willow Park Mennonite Brethern Church and supporting their daughters with their academics, sports, and music activities. It was also during the late 1980’s that Doug became involved in a close-knit Gold Wing motorcycle group, and because Linda loved spending time with Doug, she also started going on rides on the back of Doug’s Gold Wing. Doug and Linda went on many motorcycle adventures over the years, but eventually Linda’s disease prevented her from future motorcycle rides. Linda’s physical difficulties also extended to her navigating the stairs in her home, so after 24 years living on Shaunna Road, Doug and Linda moved into a rancher in Kelowna in 2009. In 2010, Doug started struggling more with his health and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Doug and Linda made the decision to purchase a home in Chilliwack, BC where their daughter Heather was living with her husband and children, to be closer to her. In the summer of 2011, Doug and Linda moved their belongings to Chilliwack, and while staying with Heather while their new home was renovated, Doug’s health took a turn for the worse and he passed away on August 20, 2011. Linda moved into their home alone, and made a new life without Doug for the next 8 ½ years. Linda became involved in Heather’s church—Eden Mennonite, where she went to the adult Sunday School class, the women’s bible study, and her care group. Above all else, Linda lived for spoiling her grandchildren: Ellenor (14), Zackary (12), Mallory (11), and Julia (9). She loved having them over for sleepovers and weekly supper dates. As much as her health let her, she would be seen cheering them on in all of their sporting activities and school events.

As Linda’s daughter Karen lived in the Cayman Islands since 2009, Linda made skype dates with Karen twice a week. Although the physical distance was difficult for Linda to be apart from her daughter, Karen was able to visit her every year, and in 2014 and 2017 Linda and Heather were able to visit Karen in the Cayman Islands.

In December 2019, Linda’s health grew progressively worse, and she was hospitalized on February 13, 2020. Complications from her rheumatoid arthritis finally were too much for Linda’s body, and on March 27, 2020 she passed away. Linda lived a life full of joy and laughter, finding humour in the every day and loving a good movie or playing games with her family. Linda left a legacy to her family that embodies her love of her faith, her family and her friends. Although she will be missed every day by those who loved her, there is peace in the knowledge that her body is no longer in pain, and that she is once again with her one true love.