Obituary of Muriel Dorothy Hayward

Muriel Dorothy Hayward was born at home February 6, 1934 to Charles and Mary Hayward in Ebor, Manitoba. Doctor Johnson came by snowmobile to deliver Muriel. She grew up with her sister Margaret and brother John. Muriel went to school in Ebor through to grade 10, and then moved to Virden for her final year, boarding at Mrs. Lazenby's. After finishing grade 11, she took a commercial course in bookkeeping, typing and shorthand and obtained a job at Kent's flour mill. She worked there for a year before acquiring a position at the local Bank of Nova Scotia. This job she held until she met a handsome older man named William Maurice Hayward, who became the love of her life. They were married in Virden March 20, 1954. They began married life in Virden in a trailer that was built and sent from Winnipeg. Maurice worked road construction and for the first few years of their marriage they moved their trailer around Manitoba following his jobs. On March 12, 1956, they were blessed with their first child, a son named William Brent. In September of 1957, Maurice went to British Columbia on a job. While he was there, Muriel had their second child, this time a daughter. Rhonda Lee was born November 22, 1957 in Virden. Not long after on January 7, 1958, Maurice and Muriel moved the family to Pouce Coupe, British Columbia. It was there they had their final child, Charlton Brock, October 26, 1959. It was also here Muriel started curling, as she had first learned the sport in school. Over a year later, October 31, 1960 they moved from Pouce Coupe to Dawson Creek. Again, they only stayed for a year, making their final move to Chetwynd in October of 1961. In April of 1962 they began building the Windrem Motel and opened the first 7 units and laundry room in July of that same year. In 1963, they added on 4 more units and living quarters. Muriel enjoyed the company of others, joining the local curling club in Chetwynd, the Dawson Creek temple of Daughters of the Nile and the Chetwynd Hospital Auxilary. She and Maurice loved dancing and would go out often to the Legion or Elk's Hall or the Chetwynd Hotel with their friends for annual events, such as the Fireman's Ball or New Year's Eve. They also had a property at Moberly Lake during the 70's where they would visit with family and friends. After many successful years running the motel, they sold their business to John and Bea Jackman on October 31, 1973 and bought a double wide trailer in the Rodeo Grounds. In July of 1976, Muriel began working as a court administrator for the Chetwynd Provincial Court. She worked for the court for over 17 years; retiring in February of 1994 at the age of 60. In 1978, they moved to a house they had built on a small farm outside of Chetwynd on November 15. On July 6, 1979 Muriel became a grandmother for the first time. She would be blessed with 9 more grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren in the following years. It was very obvious to us that family was important to Grandma. Her mother and father lived right behind them at the motel and then next to them in the Rodeo Grounds. When they moved to the farm, they brought her mother with them, as her father had passed away. During the time their daughter, Rhonda and her husband Randy, their son, Brent and his wife Patty, were constructing their homes, they lived at the farm with Grandma and Baba. Christmas was always at their house and Grandma made a big turkey dinner. We would all sit at the huge dining room table with the "little grandkids" at the smaller kitchen table and then have a family picture done. I remember weekend sleepovers with my cousin Lissa. We slept in the water bed in the basement and giggled and talked until we heard Grandma get up. Their bedroom was right above us. Grandma would wash our hair and a few times we would get as wet as our hair. On Sunday, Baba would make porridge and we'd all sit together for breakfast. Those are the kinds of traditions that we never forget and that keeps families together. Grandma loved games, such as Rummoli, Aggravation and various card games. She also completed large puzzles with the help of her children and grandchildren. Grandma and Baba had a shuffle board and pool table in the basement and Grandma would often play pool against her grandsons, letting them win a few games. Grandma even kept up with the latest technology, as she bought and played the very first Nintendo video game console. She and the grandkids would stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing Mario Brothers. She also enjoyed playing the slot machines at the casino. Grandma and Baba would travel to Las Vegas or Grande Prairie and stay in a hotel for a few days to get their fix. As Grandma and Baba got older, she would try and get her grandchildren to join their trip, so they could be chauffeured. She even stuffed a $20 bill in their hand and sent them off to try a slot machine. Grandma and Baba would entertain at their home on the farm. There were many years they hosted the Masonic Picnic in the summer. Masonic brothers and their families would often bring their trailers and stay for the weekend. Grandma loved playing horseshoes and a few years she even got first prize. I always looked forward to her making a special dessert called "Sex in a Pan". It was awesome! Grandma spoilt her grandchildren; bringing us gifts whenever she and Baba travelled. Anytime we went to visit she always had some homemade baking to ply us with. I remember my cousin Lissa and I cleaning for Grandma and she paid well. We had many breaks though, for tea and to play cards, and to catch the latest episodes of her favourite soap operas. Grandma always took special care of her family, and so I was proud to look after her when she had her hip surgery done in 2001. When people recall where they were on September 11th, I will always remember my time with Grandma. Fortunately I had been laid off, so I was able to be Grandma's live in helper. Grandma wasn't an easy patient sometimes, but I wasn't an easy nurse. After retiring, Grandma and Baba travelled a good deal, visiting Las Vegas several times, as well as Alaska, Niagara Falls, Prince Rupert, Dawson City and Yellowknife. They would also travel once a year to Manitoba to visit Grandma's sister Margaret and her nephews, and Baba's brother and sister and their families. When travelling they even took some of the grandkids with them. Grandma loved her flowers and could usually be found digging in her many flower beds. She grew many different kinds of flowers and loved to bring in a few blossoms to set on her kitchen table. She also loved music, as it could be heard most often when you visited. She had a big cabinet record player which she would use to play many artists, such as Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Englebert Humperdink, Glen Campbell and Dean Martin. Grandma also had an organ at the house on the farm and she would play for us most times we visited. She would even dance around to her music, and between her and Baba, they taught most of us grandchildren how to two-step. Eventually Grandma and Baba decided to downsize so they sold their house to their son Brock and his wife Judy, and moved into a modular home in July of 2010. They didn't move far; they set the modular up about 100 feet from the house. This gave them an even better view of the duck pond. Grandma and Baba spent almost 4 years in the modular before their declining health forced them to move to Rotary Manor in Dawson Creek in February of 2014. On March 20th of 2014 Grandma and Baba celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Sadly, two months later, on May 2nd, Baba passed away from bone cancer. Grandma continued living in Rotary Manor and received regular visits from her family and friends. Somehow she still seemed to be the most well-informed member of the family. That was probably due to the iPad the family gave her. She joined Facebook and communicated via email and Apple messages. She also continued playing slot games and some of the latest online games like Candy Crush Saga. She was loved by many of the Rotary nurses and care workers. They loved her humour and her wit. Eventually Grandma's disease claimed her and she faded peacefully away in her sleep with her three children by her side. Grandma Muriel was a beautiful person, inside and out. She was witty and warm, considerate and comforting. A hug from Grandma was something you never left without. She was there with advice when you needed it and when you thought you didn't. She was the person you wanted to grow up to be and the best friend you wanted to find. Grandma Muriel dearly loved and cherished her friends. She had many and I wouldn't list them here for fear of missing someone, but you know who you are and I hope you realize how important friendship is and how much you meant to her. That was something Grandma taught us by her example. She was often at her most animated when laughing, joking and gossiping with her friends. Friends become an extension of our family, and I think she would want us to cherish them like she did. Our family has lost one very important member, but we will never lose the example Grandma Muriel set for us. We will never lose the values she instilled in us or the love she taught us. I believe the world would be a better place if we just followed one main value: love one another. That would solve all our problems and bring everyone together. There is nothing we can't forgive if we love one another. It is too short a life to live with strife within ourselves or our families. We shall band our families together and then bring into our protective circle the friends we have made. What a wonderful example we could be to others. If we could accomplish this, there wouldn't be anyone left without a circle to join. Grandma created a circle for us and it is our duty to keep it strong and continue expanding it to bring the lonely into our embrace. It is the loving embrace Grandma offered to us. I will be a lucky granddaughter if I live to be even half the woman she was. We love you Grandma and we will miss you. Service 2:00 pm Thursday, May 19, 2016 Bergeron Chapel 10200-17th Street DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada V1G 4C2