Obituary of Marion Dinnick

Tope (Marion Jean) DINNICK After 105 years of laughter, love, grace, kindness and always looking forward not back, Tope has moved on. Born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1911, Tope was the daughter of Grey-Cup-winning Hamilton Tiger (Cat) David Tope and Ethel May Bain. She was a lifelong fan of her home football team - win or lose. She drank scotch every night and smoked well into her 90s, something that we’re sure contributed to her longevity. But most of all she laughed often. Tope married John Dinnick in 1936. She once said she married him because she thought it would be more of a challenge - and it was. Tope had four children: David, her first born who died much too young, Martha, Sarah and Victoria. She loved life no matter what curves it threw, and she loved to put people at ease. Her home in Wychwood Park resonated with her ‘woo-hoo’ that brought all the girls home for dinner. She skied intrepidly at Blue Mountain with Jozo Weider; in Kitzbuhel Austria, managed to throw suitcases for a family of five out the train window before it left the station; and tried her hand at French when necessary, even though it meant asking to have her horses washed instead of her hair. She played the short 9 at The Toronto Golf Club and shot the water pipe instead of the fox snake on Dinnick Island in Georgian Bay. With skirts rustling, she left the scent of Worth’s Je Reviens floating in the room after she tucked her children in before heading out to a party. She was stylish, fun, a great bridge player, a tireless volunteer, generous and even-handed and the best mom ever both to her kids and to their friends. She was President of the National Junior League and organized the very first volunteer group for Central Hospital. May the wind be at her back and the road rise to meet her on her journey. Her spirit lives on in her first great-grandchild Agatha McCachren, grandchildren Chloe Peterson, Max, Valentina (Jeff), Charlotte Giacomelli and daughters Martha Peterson, Sarah Giacomelli (Marc) and Victoria Dinnick. Dearest lifelong friend of Janet Fisher. With profound gratitude and appreciation for all of her caregivers from Integracare and the Balmoral Club. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES – NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday September 22th. If desired, donations may be made to the Toronto Humane Society or Covenant House. Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.