Peggy was a native Victorian, born November 23, 1923 to Fred and Gertrude Butterfield (nee Burgess). Mum grew up in Fairfield attending Sir James Douglas school and then Victoria High School. On graduation in 1942 she went to work in the purchasing office of Yarrows Shipyards. In 1948 she married George F. O. Dyson and together they had four boys followed by twin girls who all grew up on Jasmine Avenue, in the Marigold district of Saanich. As the wife of a naval shipwright who was on sea duty a good deal of his twenty years of service the demands of raising a large family often fell to Mum alone. She became an accomplished multi-tasker, program director, counselor, and referee. Singing was her passion, sewing her profession. She took training in commercial tailoring at Victoria College and professional vocal training. Peggy worked for 20 years in the tailor shop in Woodward’s Mayfair. She owned and managed the Theatrical Costume Studio for many years. She sang both as a soloist and in choirs on live radio, at weddings, and at numerous other events, large and small. She was a long time member of Victoria Operatic Society where she made appearances including “Buttercup” and “Ado Annie”. Peggy also created hundreds of costumes for her studio, her clients, her children and grandchildren, and for numerous theatrical productions both amateur and professional. She sang lead for many years with The City of Gardens chapter of Sweet Adelines before becoming a founding member of the Arbutus chapter when the family moved to East Sooke. Predeceased by George, she is survived by her six children; Norm (Robin), Dennis (Sue), Ross, Gordon (Victoria), Karen, and Shirley, fourteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She passed away peacefully on April 9, 2009. We wish to thank the kind, considerate and attentive employees and administration of The Priory Heritage Woods and to her friend Neal for the outstanding attention and care over the last 18 months.
A service of remembrance will be held at McCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson and Vancouver Streets, on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, it is Peggy’s wish that donations be made to Canadian Cancer Research.
12 Responses
Our thoughts have been with you this week. We are blessed to have spend some time with you Mother. She was always had great spirit and sense of adventure. We remember fondly her sense of humour, her first sushi experience and her new passion late in life for painting. Our Peggy Dyson of Buchart Gardens has always had a special place in our home and now we value it that much more. We hope the entire family finds comfort in all the wonderful memories of such a great lady.
Love & Hugs Catherine & Hugh
I am saddened by the loss of your dear Mum and my friend Peggy. She played many roles in the lives of all who knew her.
To me, she was a great teacher and an understanding friend. My fondest memory goes back to the mid sixties when we would pack up the little station wagon with sewing machines and miles and miles of fabric, head out to “the trailer park” to try and beat the deadline for costumes. I learned many skills that, to this day, I use. Our best work came under pressure! The sewing skills I mastered but the vocal skills that I admired so much are for me, a dream. She was a very talented woman who multitasked better than anyone I have known.
Most of all, she taught me the value of family and about each of us living as an individual. That is surely evident in all of your lives as adults. I commend her for exceptional parenting and for being a valued member of the community in which she lived. She gave so freely of herself for the benefit of others.
I will always remeber her beautiful smile with love, especially when I hear Ave Maria.
Carmen