CORINNE ODDNEY COPPING (DALMAN)

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CORINNE ODDNEY COPPING
(nee DALMAN)
November 5, 1921 - July 11, 2019

After 97 years lived with love and gratitude, our beloved Mom, Gramma and Great-Gramma/Amma passed on to join her husband Ab; parents, Ingo and Stefania (Hermanson) Dalman; son-in-law Errol Ferguson; brothers, Harold, Norman, Gordon, Frank and Arnold and sister Evelyn (Sis); siblings-in-law, Sheila, Bette, Audrey and Gordon; and many special aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. She is survived by her daughters, Sharen (John) of Selkirk, Valerie (Richard) of Gladstone and Marcia (Jim) of Langruth; son-in-law Greg of Gladstone; grandchildren, Travis (Janie), Shandra (Brent), Brad (Jennifer), Amberly (Shawn), Scott (Tasha) and Christopher; and great-grandchildren, Tyler, Clayton, Kara, Hannah, Madigan, Michael, Castleton and Aspen, who remain here to cherish memories and remember the unconditional love and selfless support she gave and the lessons she quietly taught. Also left enriched by her life are her beloved sister Mabel; brother-in-law Les; sister-in-law Margaret; nieces and nephews.
Corinne was born in Selkirk, MB on November 5, 1921 and enjoyed her youth on her dad's dairy farm in the north end of Selkirk. She remembered her childhood fondly, including her time swimming in the Selkirk slough with siblings and friends, visits from aunts in Winnipeg, and her dad getting milk to those in town who needed but couldn't afford it. Having grown up through the Depression, Corinne had a deep appreciation and strong sensibility that never left her. Nothing was wasted and everything possible was reused, whether wax paper, wrapping paper or otherwise.
In 1946, Corinne married Ab, who she met after Ab and her brother Norman joined to serve in the Royal Canadian Engineers and before they were deployed to serve in Europe. Corinne and Ab then moved to the Woodside/Steelbridge area where they farmed with Ab's brother Gordon who was married to Corinne's sister Evelyn. Their daughter Sharen was born in 1949, followed by Valerie in 1953 and Marcia in 1955. Corinne enjoyed life on the farm, curling, playing cards, sewing, gardening and visits with extended family and many friends. After retirement, Corinne and Ab moved from the farm to Gladstone where they both continued to be involved in the community. For Corinne, this included volunteering in the Royal Canadian Women's Auxiliary (Life member), the United Church Women and the Gladstone Hospital Aid as well as helping others out in the community in countless ways. Shortly thereafter, she became a Gramma. Corinne continued to be devoted to her family and gave and received great joy from attending her grandchildren's activities which included frequent trips to Winnipeg and Selkirk.
After Ab passed on in 1985, Corinne never hesitated to jump in her car and continue these trips. Corinne also spent summers hosting family, which often included her grandchildren's friends, at her simple lakefront spot at Big Point Retreat on Lake Manitoba. Gramma would play countless games of Uno and cribbage and never said no when we asked for one more game. She also continued to spend months in Texas with her brothers, Harold and Frank and their wives, curl in the winter and golf in the summer (the last of which continued into her 80s). Corinne enjoyed travelling, including family trips to visit relatives in North Dakota when she was young, a trip to England with Ab to visit the family Ab billeted with at Christmas during the war, sightseeing on Vancouver Island, multiple trips to California to visit Mabel and Les, many trips throughout Canada for military reunions with Norman and Bette and, at age 88, a four-generation trip to Iceland. She also appreciated the visits she received from nieces and nephews who thought to stop in on their way through Gladstone.
Corinne was proudly Canadian and very proud of her Icelandic heritage (and being hailed by many as the best vinaterta maker) and Ab's, and her brothers, Norman and Gordon's service to Canada. She was most proud of her family. She loved our family holiday celebrations and our weekend gatherings around hotel pools. We will miss her quiet stubbornness and determination, her grace, her generous support, her interest in all we did and her infinite love but, as she would want, we will focus on being thankful for the time we had, the memories we made, the lessons we learned and the love we shared.
A memorial service was held on July 16, 2019 at Gladstone United Church. In lieu of flowers, if family and friends wish, donations may be made to Gladstone United Church or Seven Regions Palliative Care.
And lastly, from the song "I Call You Names" by Tenille Arts:

I paint you in the most beautiful light
I call you (mama) Mom, my best friend
My everything til the end
I call you my angel
I call you a saint

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 20, 2019