Obituary of Mabel Alberta Dalling

Mrs Mabel Alberta Dalling was born in Berwick on September 12, 1920; she was the daughter of the late Norman and Frances (Orr) Goddard and the wife of the late Wendell Dalling. Mabel lived a long and full life; one that saw many changes. She went from walking barefoot in summer to winters in shoes, travelling in horse and buggy, to Model T cars, to the present day vehicles. During her growing up years, Mabel shared a bed with her five sisters, helped her parents with the daily chores and tormented and teased her siblings. As Mabel became old enough to work, she would often work with her father in the lumber camps as a cook. Later, she went to work for Mr. & Mrs. Jim McFarlane. During this time, Mabel and Freda Adair became very good friends. They attended many dances throughout the area; Mabel loved to dance. It was fitting that she would meet her love, Wendell, at one of these dances. With Freda standing up with her, Mabel and Wendell were married. There was no honeymoon time. Instead, Wendell and Mabel settled in at the homestead and began to help Wendell’s father with the farm. Mabel loved being on the farm. She especially loved the animals. Often, when a new baby animal was born, Mabel would be there making sure mother and baby were well attended. From bringing a new lamb into the house to warm up by the woodstove, to sitting up all night as a new litter of piglets came into the world…she enjoyed every moment. Life on the homestead was always busy. They raised chickens, geese and turkeys. Often the neighbor’s goat would get loose and come over. Mabel didn’t like that goat because it would eat the buttons off her dresses drying on the clothesline. All but two of Mabel and Wendell’s children were born on the homestead. Their home was always full of family and friends. Often coming for a visit and staying for the weekend; there were always adventures to be had. Often all the kids and friends would jump in the back of the truck and head out for a fun afternoon. Fishing trips, lobster in Martin Head, picnic lunches, Strawberry and Blueberry picking, and hunting will always be special memories the family enjoyed together. Even after her children were grown and married, they would often come to visit on Friday and would end up staying until Sunday afternoon. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would sit around the kitchen table munching on her jelly cookies… there was a never ending supply of those jelly cookies. During the 60’s Wendell and Mabel opened a Special Care Home for seniors. For several years they looked after the needs of many, including children. During the winters, Wendell would leave to work in the lumber camps and would be gone until the Spring, while Mabel would keep everything going at the homestead. Even when the snow was deep, Mabel would be out tending to the barns in her dresses and nylons. Mabel was a hard working woman and dedicated to her family. Between, scrubbing floors, cooking, baking, gardening, churning butter, separating milk to make cream and giving the skim to the calves, carrying pails of water in for washing clothes, knitting woolen socks and mittens, mending and making clothes, and quilting, Mabel was a woman whose love was felt, not only in her touch but also in her action. She was also a member of the UCW and helped out at community functions whenever possible. During her 95 years of life, Mabel faced many hardships and experienced the loss of many friends and family members. Throughout all of this, Mabel was a woman who loved deeply and cherished the memories made during her life. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters: Mary Ann and Joan; her sons: Harold and his wife Audrey and Tom and his wife Judy; her grandchildren: Pearl, Cheryl, Harold and his wife Sharmon, Letitia and her partner Doug, Robert and his wife Fatima, Colleen and her partner Dave, Leonard and his wife Marsha, LeRoy and his wife Katie and Carolyn and her husband Scott; her great grandchildren: Jacob, Bill, Kasia, Brycen, Audrey, Izaac, Jasmine, Niklaus, Evan, Michael, Mary Grace, Katelyn, Kennidy, Madison, Marcus, Mylee and Kaylee; her sisters-in-law Marjorie, Edna and Myrtle Goddard; as well as several nieces and nephews. Mabel is predeceased by her husband Wendell; her son George; her grandson Michael; her sisters: Marion Gillett, Florence Campbell, Vivian Matchett, and Carrie Gowlett; her brothers: Clifford, Perley, Eric, Herbert, Robert, Clarence, Wesley, Donald, Palmer, Everett, Russell, and Harvey. Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176). A service celebrating Mabel's life will be held from Wallace Community Chapel on May 2, 2016 at 10:00am. In Lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to an organization of the donor's choice.