Obituary of Dina Dykeman

It is with sadness that the family of Davidina “Dina” Gordon Dykeman, wife for 63 years of the late Norman Dykeman, announce her passing which occurred at her home in Jemseg, NB, on February 4, 2024. She was born on May 25, 1931 in East Scotch Settlement, NB, and was the youngest child of Scottish Immigrants, the late Robert and Annie (Leckie) McLaughlan.  

Dina is survived by her children: Sharon (Brian) Kennedy of Cambridge-Narrows, NB, Ronald (Sarah) Dykeman of Jemseg, NB, James (Anna) Dykeman of Bognor, ON, Larry Dykeman of Burton, NB, Leslie Dykeman of Jemseg, NB, Paul Dykeman of Lakeville Corner, NB, and Nancy Dykeman of Hampton, NB; twenty grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren;  as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her husband Norman, Dina was predeceased by her sons, David, Gary and Philip Dykeman; daughter-in-law Julie MacDonald-Dykeman; grandson Virgil; brothers: Robert, William, Jack, Andrew; sisters: Agnes Patterson, Jean Ness and Annie Farris.

She was a clever student, finishing high school with honors as valedictorian and going on to graduate from teachers college. Her teaching career which included the Midland school and the Little Red Schoolhouse was short though, because she soon fell in love with and in short order married a young farmer named Arthur Norman Dykeman on September 12^th, 1953.  They were blessed to have spent nearly 63 years at each others side.

As busy as Mom always was, working alongside Dad, she was a patient and loving mother who we knew cherished each one of us. Later in life, as our families grew, mom relished her role as grandmother, great- grandmother and great-great grandmother, making us feel her warmth and love.  The door was always open and there was always room for more.  Besides her family, her passions included knitting and quilting.  We, as well as many beyond our family, knew mom’s generosity and talent.  She thoroughly enjoyed giving her labours of love away.  Mom was also an eloquent and articulate woman who was often called upon to write poems to commemorate special occasions in the lives of family and friends.  She often would write these poems well in advance, when a thought would strike her and she had to get it on paper.  She loved to personalize poems so each person who received them felt her love.

Mom was a woman of strong faith and she practiced it deeply in her day-to-day dealings with others. She was a long standing member of Jemseg United Baptist Church and Women’s Missionary Society of Jemseg. She was the anchor in our family, and much loved and respected by all who knew her. Her passing has torn a great hole in the fabric of our family, but we will carry on.  Our mother was a shining example of strength in the face of adversity and her faith carried her through many trials.   As a tribute to her, we will carry forward the legacy of unconditional love with which our beautiful mother blessed us.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Sherwood’s Funeral Home and Life Tribute Centre (506-839-2156), 18 Scovil Road, Norton, NB, where visitation will be held from 4 to 7 pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024. The funeral service will be held from Jemseg United Baptist Church at 11:00am on Friday, February 9, 2024. A private family interment will be held at the Jemseg Community Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Dina may be made to the Hear t & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association, the Jemseg Community Cemetery or to the memorial of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences to the family and donations may be made through SherwoodsFuneralHome.com