In Loving Memory of
Mary Mitchell VanDaele
(nee Dyck)
age 94

Lovingly remembered by her children 
Wally, Barb, Don and David as well as their families.  
She was predeceased by her husbands Morley and Dusty and son-in-law Marlin.

Died
April 14, 2025
Bayside PCH
Killarney, Manitoba

Memorial Service
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Killarney United Church 
Killarney, Manitoba
11:00 a.m.

To view the Livestream Service please register here

Interment~ Killarney Cemetery

Donations in memory of Mary may be made
to the Killarney Foundation; Box 1180 
Killarney, MB R0K 1G0.

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Mary Dyck Mitchell VanDaele
on Monday, April 14, 2025 at the age of 94 years.
Mary was born two miles south of Lowe Farm, Manitoba on September 18, 1930 to
John Neufeld Dyck and Helena Blatz. Mary was the sixth child born after five brothers,
followed by one more sibling, Helen Rigby of Killarney, Manitoba.
Mom grew up on the farm doing whatever needed to be done; telling the story that one
day the combine was full in the field and Grandpa was fixing something and said, “Mary,
can you go and get that hopper of grain?” She jumped into the truck, and when she got
back, he said, “you did a good job, so just keep on hauling.” She frequently reminded us
that she had been driving and hauling grain since she was eleven years old! She never
took a drivers test though, but rather when she was 16, she loaded up 4 girlfriends and
drove the Flivver 9 miles to Morris, to the hardware store, and paid for a license.
Mom went to school in Lowe Farm and after completing grade 11 in 1948, left school
and was hired at the Co-op store, quickly moving from cashier to managing the newly
opened lunch bar and cafeteria. She baked pies everyday in a makeshift kitchen in a
warehouse in back of the store for a couple of years. From there, she worked in the
telephone office in Morris until she became ill. Her parents had made the move to
Rivers, selling the land at Lowe Farm and purchasing a house and eleven quarters near
Rivers. After two long surgeries to remove a non functioning kidney, and eleven weeks
in Brandon hospital recovering, Mom returned to her parents’ home and began work at
Gilchrist's Drug Store in Rivers.
In 1954, Mom met our Dad, Morley Mitchell at the Ag School in Brandon. After a short
courtship, they fell in love and were married October 27, 1954. For Mary, life began on
the Mitchell home farm with her social life forever intertwined in the cattle business.
Mom was kept very busy in those early years when the Mitchells all farmed together,
feeding the Mitchell men all summer, milking cows, gathering eggs, raising chickens and
having children. Wally was born in 1955, Barb in 1958, Don in 1961 and David in 1971.
Mom said that the milk and egg money often helped get them through the long winters.
She loved her flower beds and always grew a huge garden, canning 100’s of jars of
veggies and pickles. No one will ever forget her homemade bread and buns - five
batches of bread every two weeks for the first ten years of her marriage! Besides the
bread, there was her famous Christmas pudding with loaded rum sauce and Chiffon
Cakes at every birthday.
Mom was a beautiful seamstress. The sewing machine was always out as she mended
or made new clothes for each one of us while making sure Barb learned how to sew it
right. She took courses in tailoring and stretch & sew and also taught sewing in 4-H for
many years.

Despite being a full time mom and farm wife, she still found time for herself. She was
very active in the United Church, Manitoba Co-operative Women’s Guild and became a
Life Member of the Manitoba Women’s Institute. She was so proud of her 55+ years in
the W.I. and their accomplishments. She attended many conferences and seminars
throughout her lifetime, including 3 World Conferences with the Associated Country
Women of the World – Hamburg, Germany in 1980, Vancouver in 1983, and Kansas
City in 1989. She loved meetings, loved meeting new people and was never shy about
initiating a conversation with a stranger. Mom liked to keep up with current affairs and
one year decided to take in Ag Days in Brandon. Staying at Davids, she spent 3 full
days attending seminars and touring all the booths. She was 83 years old!
Mom also loved to curl, and later in life took up golf. Her most favourite activity,
however, was dancing. Mom and Dad could really cut a rug! Mom was so proud when
they once won a waltz competition. She even tried to teach her boys how to dance, but
didn’t have much success with that venture!
Sadly, our Dad passed away in January 1978 at the age of 47. Mom remained on the
farm and life stayed very busy as she and the boys continued on with the grain and
Hereford cattle farm.
Two years later, Mom met and married Dusty VanDaele and moved to Medora to
continue her life in the cattle and farming business. Dusty and Mom travelled
extensively promoting the Angus breed and were both very active in the Angus
Association.
After retirement, Mom and Dusty moved their home from the farm at Medora to a lot on
Killarney Lake. Summers were spent in Manitoba. Winters were spent in Arizona for
eleven years. They kept up old friendships and quickly made many new friendships.
When Dusty’s health began to fail, their winter holidays ceased and Mom became an
avid fan at her grandchildren’s school and sporting activities, attending as many events
as she could. Dusty moved into personal care, and Mom moved into the Legion Plaza,
where she spent many happy years enjoying the camaraderie of her neighbours. Dusty
passed away in 2008 with Mom by his side.
When her memory began to fail, Mom moved to Victoria Landing in Brandon, and
eventually returned to reside in personal care in Killarney. Mom always made the best of
every situation and always said “I couldn’t ask for a better place, the food is good and
I’m well looked after”. We sincerely thank the BPCH staff for the care and comfort Mom
received while there.
Mom’s pride and joy were her children and her grandchildren. She was so proud of us
all and loved to tell people! Even though her memory failed, her face always lit up with a
smile when one of her children came to visit.

Mom is survived by her 4 children, Wally (Jackie), Barb, Don (Penny) and David, her
grandchildren Michelle, Kailey, Brady, Lindsay and Ryan, and their families, her sister
Helen, sister-in-law Lena and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her
husbands Morley and Maurice (Dusty), her son-in-law Marlin, step children Ilene and
Floyd, step granddaughter Jackie, parents John and Helen, and her brothers Andy, Jake, John and Elmer.
Rest in peace, Mom. You will be missed.