Ms. Dawn McAllister

It is with sadness that the family of Patricia Dawn McAllister, always known as Dawn, announces that Dawn passed away on October 24th, 2020. Dawn will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Caralyn (David) and Michele (Chris), grandsons Aiden and Mateo, her brothers Raymond (Adriana), and Michael (Lisa, Josh, Liam), Ted, and her friends and family in BC, Alberta, U.S.A and South Africa.

Dawn was born in Claresholm, Alta. on March 8, 1945 and lived in a nearby town named Granum where her ancestors were among the first homesteaders there. Her mother was Dorothy (Dot) Lang and her father was James (Jimmy) Opinko. Dawn was the oldest child. Almost exactly a year later her brother Ray was born. Her parents split up before Dawn started school. When her mom got a job as a town switchboard operator she met a young RCMP officer, Rae McAllister. When Dawn was 8, Rae and Dot married, Dawn and Ray were adopted, and their younger brother, Michael (Mick) was born. They lived in several places across BC and Alberta.

Dawn and Ray were often mistaken for twins, especially as they were both very blonde, after 2 years old were the same height, and often wore matching outfits that their Grandma Lang sewed for them from used adult clothing. After Ray skipped Grade 4, the “twins” were also in the same class for the rest of their school days.

Rae, Dot and the kids settled in Vancouver where Dawn attended Seymour Elementary and later Templeton and Britannia Secondary Schools. Dawn graduated from Britannia in 1963 and developed life-long friendships. Dawn enjoyed singing, dancing and doing musical theatre. Dawn was very close with her 8th grade friends Gail and Barry and has many friendships from Britannia where she graduated in 1963. Numerous reunions followed. Remarkably, although Dawn already had Alzheimer’s, she enthusiastically attended their 55 reunion in 2018.

Dawn was married in 1966 in Vancouver to Carl Andersen who was from Capetown, South Africa. They separated in the late 70s. Throughout her life Dawn remained great friends with her sisters-in-law, Lorna (Gerry) and Petra (Keith), her mother-in-law Gladys, and many nieces and nephews, most of whom moved to Canada.

Dawn had her older daughter, Caralyn, in 1967, one week before her 22nd birthday. Her younger daughter, Michele, was born 6 years later, in 1973. Dawn loved her daughters unconditionally and supported them fully in all their endeavours.

Her daughters both have graduate degrees. Caralyn is a resource teacher (special ed. and ESL) at an elementary school in Burnaby. Michele is an occupational therapist in North Vancouver. Both her girls are married to fabulous men who are steady, supportive and fun. Dawn has always embraced Chris (Michele) and David (Caralyn) as part of the family.

Dawn has twin grandsons, Aiden and Mateo, who were the light of her life. From the day they were born in 2010, Dawn spent 2 to 3 days a week helping Michele and Chris and sharing her love, joy and playfulness with their boys. Dawn will always be remembered lovingly as “Gaga”.

Dawn has always been very loving and generous friend to Michael’s wife Lisa and her two terrific sons Josh and Liam, as well as to Raymond’s god-daughter Adriana. To Dawn they were all part of her family which, over her life-time, included 2 Great Grandparents, 3 sets of Grandparents, many colourful aunts and uncles, and cousins galore.

Dawn attended UBC in Elementary Education and worked as a teacher for a few years. After raising her children, Dawn worked at the Museum of Vancouver and the North Shore Neighbourhood House after-school care. Dawn’s primary career was as an RCMP/CSIS analyst for 23 years, which was a challenging and fulfilling job. She even won awards for her contributions to the safety of our country.

Dawn had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. When Caralyn was just 4 years old – before Michele was born – Dawn and Carl spent a year travelling to Mexico and Hawaii on a 40 foot trimaran sail boat that Carl and his brother-in-law built. Caralyn even got to celebrate her 5th birthday in a mansion in Manzanillo, Mexico. A couple years after Michele was born, Dawn and Carl took their daughters for a two month trip to the UK and South Africa so the girls could meet their grandparents, aunts and cousins.

Over the years, Dawn enjoyed many trips with friends and family. She explored the UK, Europe, the Caribbean and Hawaii. She went on a great cruise to Mexico with Michael and Ray, had a wild adventure with Ted in Cuba, and travelled across Canada from BC to the Maritimes.

She also loved spending time with Ted who is an ex-boyfriend from a long time ago. They reconnected in her final years and became the best of friends again. Ted was a great support to Dawn, and the family is very grateful for him being a loving caregiver as her Alzheimer’s progressed.

Dawn always thought she was shy. But everyone knew her as friendly, caring, generous, intelligent, organized, sensitive, joyful, independent and resilient. Her daughters’ friends reminisce how Dawn created a safe space for all the youth to come to when they had troubles at home. She was always young at heart, didn’t look her age, and had great skin and hair to the end.

Dawn was very loving and deeply loved. She gave unwavering support for her daughters. She adored her grandsons and cherished her role of “Gaga”. We will always hold in our hearts her friendly, generous, non-judgemental, joyful and positive nature.

Dawn’s favourite music was blues and R & B. She loved to dance, and used to go dancing several days a week. Over the decades, you could often find Dawn on the dance floor at her favourite hangouts – the Yale, the Fairview and the Admiral. Right to the end of her life, she enjoyed being with friends and family and dancing to the Blues. She saw all the beauty in the world and in every person she met. May we continue to see the beauty and keep dancing in her memory.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers you may want to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society or support your local artists and musicians as Dawn so generously did. Thank you.