Skip to content

MURIEL JEAN DASH

(1913 - 2013)

On December 17, just weeks before her 101st birthday, Muriel Jean Dash passed peacefully at Arrowsmith Lodge, Parksville.

Muriel was born on January 14, 1913 in Broadview, Saskatchewan. The only child of Bert and Mollie Hewitt (who immigrated to Canada from England), Muriel moved with her parents to Errington in 1922, attending school in Errington, Parksville and Port Alberni. In 1934, she worked briefly for the Kingsley family (Jim Sr. and his wife Allie, long-time residents of Parksville) before returning to Broadview Saskatchewan. It was there she met and fell in love with her husband, Arthur Dash. They were married in 1940 and had three sons. In 1952, tragedy struck when Arthur suffered a heart attack and died suddenly. With three young boys to raise on her own, Muriel eventually relocated to Parksville to be close to her mother who was also widowed. In 1966, tragedy struck once again when Muriel’s youngest son, Harvey, passed away at 19 years of age to cancer.

For the last 57 years, Muriel has resided in Parksville, dedicating her life to serving others. In latter years, she became actively involved with the United Church, fundraising for the new building on Pym Road and then working five days a week on a voluntary basis in the new church kitchen. She did this for 20 years.

On her 65th birthday, Knox United honoured Muriel with a retirement party. Because she never really retired, they did it all over again in 1993 for her 80th birthday. Her volunteer work gave Muriel great satisfaction and rewarded her with many friends in the church community.  

2013 was a special one for Muriel. Not only did she celebrate her 100th birthday with over a hundred friends and family members at her side in January, she was also honoured in June at the 100th anniversary of MacMillan School, which she attended in the 1920s. As the year drew to a close, Muriel knew it was time to go home. She died in the same manner she lived her life, with dignity and concern for those around her. Her last request was to thank her friends at Knox United Church and the staff of Arrowsmith Lodge for their kindness, care and support over the years.

Muriel will be sadly missed by her sons, Ted (Sandy) and Barry (Donna), as well as her grandchildren, Cindy, Ron and Samantha, and great-grandchildren, Oliver, Jacob, Tyler, Skye, Brooke and Steele.

Funeral services for Muriel Dash will be held at Knox United Church

on Saturday, December 28th at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Knox United Church Memorial Fund are welcome.



Secondary Title

Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.