Mabel Saville

Mabel Saville was born on one of those rare days of the calendar the 12th day of the 12th month of the 12th year i.e. December 12, 1912 in the little village of Minnitaki. She died peacefully at the Dryden Regional Health Centre on Friday, October 22, 2010 at the age of 97. Her parents were Percy and Ellen Launder who had emigrated to Canada from England on the promise of “homestead” land. In 1930, at the age of 18 she married Dick Saville just as the Great Depression was starting. They had six children, Bernice, Pat, Merna, Alvin, Ken and Rodney. Interestingly, they were the first couple to be married in the then newly-built Minnitaki Holy Trinity Church. They were a pioneer couple doing their best to survive in difficult times. Hunting and fishing weren’t done for sport. They were done for survival. During the Depression work was where one found it, often some distance away from home. Mabel was often left alone on the homestead with the children. Finally, in 1943, Dick’s carpentry skills got him a job in Dryden and as a result they moved into town. Mabel continued her church affiliation by joining St. Luke’s where she sang in the choir, served as president of the Anglican Church women’s organization and was a faithful member of the congregation involving herself in many aspects of the Church. Camping and fishing played a very large part in the life of the Saville family. Initially it was with the children but as the children grew up and left home, it changed to just Mabel and Dick using snowmachines in winter, camper vans, “dune buggies” and boating in the summer. She spent her later years in Patricia Gardens and Princess Court. Mabel will be remembered as being a person you could always depend upon. She was “always there” for her family and was a proud Canadian. Mabel was predeceased by her husband Dick, and by her eldest son, Alvin. She is survived by three daughters, Bernice (Beddome), Pat (Wilson) and Merna (Major); two sons, Ken and Rodney and her sister Ellen as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. A memorial funeral service will be held Wednesday October 27th, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Luke’s Anglican Church with Reverend Merna Major officiating. Interment of ashes will follow in the Minnitaki Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations in Mabel’s name, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or St. Luke’s Anglican Church, through Stevens Funeral Home, P.O. Box 412, Dryden, Ontario.