Daphne Jane Dymond (Arnold), aged 95, went to her eternal home on April 12, 2023, from Bethany Lodge, Unionville, Ontario.
Daphne was born on February 25, 1928, in Toronto, and grew up in Unionville. Following a B.A. from University of Toronto and a year of teachers’ college she went on to lead an interesting and varied life, starting as part of an itinerant ministry team to Muskoka and points north, then transitioning to teaching at all levels from a one-room schoolhouse through community college, until the late 1970’s. In 1959 she married Bruce Arnold while teaching in Westport, ON, and after a few years in Bancroft and Orillia they worked together clearing land, building, and settling into their beloved country home in Oro Township near Orillia. Daph was a much-loved wife, mom, and grandmother, with her laughter, stories, and music, and she fostered a genuine concern for all people. After Bruce passed away, she migrated for winters to her daughter’s in Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed several of her grandchildren and made many new friends. Daphne loved her family and friends, her pets, the outdoors, horses, boats, flying a float plane (in her early years), skiing, reading, and travel, and she especially loved Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
Daphne is survived by her daughter Valerie (Arnold) Shaw (husband Dave) and son Stephen Arnold (wife Pam), 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Arthur and Dorothy (Denton) Dymond, her husband of 24 years, H. Bruce Arnold, her brother, William (Bill) Dymond, and sister, Sidney Dymond.
Visitation at 2:30 p.m. will be followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m. on June 3rd at the clubhouse of Big Cedar Estates seniors’ community, where Daphne lived for many of her later years (1844 13th Line North, Oro-Medonte, ON L0L 1T0). In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, or to a charity of your choice. Messages to the family and stories to be shared can be posted on the tribute wall at www.aftercare.org.