KelownaNow was recently asked to run an obituary for a resident who had passed away but we don't have an Obituary section. We want to provide an opportunity for family and friends to share stories about the person who has passed away, to tell them in the first person and with the emotion that comes with grief, loss and memory. This is not intended to sadden anyone, it is hoped that we can play a small part in remembering the Good People among us.
Who are you and what is your relationship to Judy Dyer
I'm Rick Dyer, Judy's husband. We were married for 35 years.
How did you first meet?
We met through my good friend Tony Tingley.
What is one of your best memories of first meeting Judy?
Dancing with a Beautiful Blond at Tramps Night Club.
What did Judy do?
She was an X-ray Technician/Manager in Radiology Department at KGH.
What do you remember most about her?
Judy had a passion for life and her work….she loved working at KGH in Radiology and she was loved by everybody she worked with. She was a great manager and treated everybody with equality. I admired everything about Judy; her zest for life was intoxicating. She was always the light in the room, loved by all. She was just honoured at KGH with a room being named in her memory.
What did she teach you?
She was always there for people and enjoyed life to the fullest.
Judy had a big commitment to dragon boating. Where did that come from?
Judy was never a big fan of boating…until she joined Bustin Loose, a dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors. She loved being on the team and was president for two years. They did many volunteer events and even managed to travel to Europe to help increase the awareness of Breast Cancer and Dragon Boating. They had such an impact at one event in Germany that the young team that won the overall title at the regatta then presented Bustin Loose with the winning trophy. At that time there was no such thing as Breast Cancer survivor teams in Germany…now there are lots. She was an inspiring woman.
How did Judy look at things and other people?
Judy valued kindness and honesty in people….as she was in the medical world she genuinely cared for others.
She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. That must have been quite something for a woman who took high heels on camping trips.
Judy was never much of an outdoors person, but when she was given the chance to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa as part of a major fundraiser for cancer research she jumped at it. As she always does, she was 110% committed and she raised in excess of $20,000. That climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro gets the better of many people, it was not easy. She spent the previous winter up at our Big White condo hiking up and down the hill in training for the climb - and of course she summited. I then joined her and we did an eight day Safari…she spent over three weeks sleeping in a tents. It was typical Judy - no quit in her ever although it was her first and last time camping in the great outdoors.
Where was her favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
Her favourite place to dine was in her home….she was famous for her dinner parties. Not only the incredible meals, but the amazing table settings. Judy loved people, dinners, dressing to the nines and shopping. So hosting our friends around our table covered all her favourite things. She was my very own Martha Stewart.
How do you want to honour Judy's life?
We are having a celebration of her life on June 6th at Bottega Inn and Studio (4485 Swallows Road). I hope everyone who knew Judy and wants to share a memory with friends joins us. It will be a sad and joyful celebration of a life well lived.
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