Myrtle May Dear

It is with heavy hearts that the loving family of Myrtle Dear sadly bid their mother, grandmother and great grandmother goodbye.  Her family is grateful that her last days were spent in the compassionate care of her youngest children and in the comfort of her much loved home.

Born in Floral, SK and raised in Saskatoon, her life was forever shaped by The Depression and Drought of the 20’s and 30’s.  In spite of the trials and poverty of those years, or perhaps because of them, her greatest treasures in life were not material things or status, but rather love, family and community.  She shared all of these with the love of her life, Francis (Frank) Dear, whom she wed in 1942, and the family they had together.  Their twenty-five years together, before his death in 1967, were woven through and through with love, children, home, hard work, good friends, laughter, community and faith.  The love they shared carried her through the remainder of her days, all of which were lived in her beloved community of Sutherland.

Myrtle was a prairie girl at heart.  Strong.  Smart.  Beautiful.  Courageous.  Resilient.  She lived a full life as a woman, as the heart of her family, fiercely independent and hard working.  She was successful in, and proud of, her career at the University of Saskatchewan and content in her retirement.  She put many a mile on her vehicles, chauffeuring grandchildren, travelling across the west to spend time with her children and their families and meeting friends for coffee and lunch.  She had great strength of character, integrity and mental tenacity.  Her solution for the things she couldn’t change was always a little shrug and a gracious “that’s life”.  Her door was always open, her fridge was always full and her arms were always ready with a quick, welcoming hug.  She was a wonderful grandma, loving and spoiling her grandchildren without restraint.  They knew their gramma would always be delighted to see them, always have an open ear to hear their stories and always fill their tummies with their favourite things.  She was the master of milkshakes and homemade buns!  Her home was the destination for many family dinners, summer holidays, Christmas gatherings of her ever growing brood and a haven for any and all when life pressed a little too hard.  We will hold forever dear the memory of her, at the end of yet another great visit, standing at her front door waving goodbye while flashing her porch light.

She is lovingly remembered by her surviving children Art (Donna) Dear, Bill (Ella) Dear, Bonny (Richard) Sachko, Cheri (Bob) Lucky and Neil Dear as well as by her cherished grandchildren, their spouses and their children.  She was pre-deceased by her parents and siblings, her loving husband Frank, daughter Susan Malec, son-in-law Ron Malec and her grandsons David Malec and Orin Dear.  We trust that the richest of blessings are now hers at the end of a life well lived.

A public graveside gathering for the internment of her ashes will take place on May 19th at Woodlawn Cemetery Saskatoon at 1:00 pm .