Jackie Dyson’s Memorial

I have known Adam & Joel Dyson for over 2 decades now, and traveled across North America playing in bands with them. In that time, I’ve know them to be good people who would do anything for anyone. The type of guys who would give anything they could to any friend in a time of need. The goal of this GoFundMe is to try to help them in theirs.

A message from Adam:
Our mother Jackie passed away on October 31st after fighting complications for two months following open heart surgery. Between going into kidney failure, lung infection, an emergency tracheotomy and finally an MRSA infection (narrowly avoiding the COVID-19 outbreak that made its way through her ICCS ward), she fought so hard for weeks until finally deciding to end treatment when it became clear she would be confined to a hospital bed for the rest of her life. She was so strong.

Being a Type 1 diabetic since she was 14, my mom had numerous stays in the hospital: a battle with sepsis, issues related to Charcot neuropathy, a broken ankle with a botched surgery that resulted in a year-long antibiotic treatment and eventual amputation of her lower leg. She had a very tough time with her health over the past decade.

As a result, she was forced to retire early on a reduced pension, which was hard, but she never asked for help.

Our mom worked tirelessly at two jobs as a single mom and raising three children, eventually even helping to raise a fourth when Justin joined our family. We were so lucky to have a mom who worked so hard to raise us. She did her absolute best for us and provided us with a comfortable and wonderful life full of love.

Raising four kids on your own doesn’t allow much room for savings. We are now faced with the uncertainty of fulfilling her final resting wishes.

Our mom wished to be cremated and to have a tree planted in her memory here in Winnipeg, where she started her family after moving from Newfoundland. She wanted us to place some of her ashes with the tree, and then finally bring the rest to her childhood home in Newfoundland, where she can rest alongside her mother and father.

In Winnipeg, the fee for planting a tree is $1000.00. I know what you’re thinking, “Just plant a tree yourselves and save the money.” Unfortunately, the City of Winnipeg will cut down any trees that aren’t registered with them. We have to go through the proper channels on this (https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/parksOpenSpace/UrbanForestry/Commemorative_Tree.stm#2).

As for transporting her ashes to Newfoundland, with everything the way it is, we are looking at $1000.00 per family member making the trip out there. We don’t know how many will be able to make the trip, but we have to do this for her.

I’m sure we’re going to need more than what we’re asking for, but I am uncomfortable enough as it is asking for even this amount of help. But, no matter what happens with fundraiser, we will figure something out.

Any donations we receive will go toward fulfilling her resting wishes: her cremation, arranging for the tree to be planted, transporting her ashes to Newfoundland and finally laying them to rest there with her mother and father.

Thank you.