Community mourns beloved volunteer, Wendy Dingman

Wendy Dingman, 74, died suddenly while staying with friends in Huntsville on Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

A memorial service will take place Friday, February 26 at 2 pm at Muskoka Community Church located at 5 Crescent Road in Huntsville. Visitation will also be held at Muskoka Community Church on Thursday, February 25 between 5 and 8 pm.

Wendy became an intricate part of the Huntsville community approximately 20 years ago, after spending time cottaging in the area. Originally from Leaside, Ontario, she lived in various places including the United States with her husband Al, originally from Burk’s Falls, before the couple decided to establish roots here.

She will best be remembered by her warm smile, her determination, her humanity and the incredible amount of time she spent making this community a better place for so many.

Not shy about rolling up her sleeves and giving it her all, she volunteered tirelessly for numerous community organizations and initiatives including the Table Soup Kitchen Foundation, the Special Olympics bowling league, flood victim fundraisers, Ontario Youth Winter Games, Ontario ParaSport Games, the Terry Fox Run, the former Muskoka Literacy Council as well as YMCA Literacy Services and its Muskoka Novel Marathon fundraiser, among others.

Nancy West with the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka remembers Wendy as someone who always sought ways to “help out the community and those less fortunate than her. She worked with our learners for many, many years as a volunteer – talking to them, teaching them, laughing with them. She just became such a part of our community at the YMCA because she had that passion to help people.”

Wendy Dingman at the 2015 Muskoka Novel Marathon where she was a beloved volunteer. Photo: Lori Twining.

Wendy also lent her support to the Muskoka Novel Marathon, a huge fundraiser for YMCA’s literacy programs in the area, and once she took that on there was no stopping her. “She was the queen in getting prizes and donations because she knew everybody in the community and everyone knew her,” recalled West. “She was there the whole time, she’d go home to sleep and that’s it,” said West of the 72-hour-long fundraiser held annually on a weekend in July. Wendy also served as one of the event’s judges, helping determine the winning manuscripts in each category.

“It’s like we lost a part of our family in losing Wendy. Our thoughts certainly go out to her family at this time,” said West.

Wendy was no stranger to the works of Rotary in the community either. “She was a God-send to the community,” noted Huntsville Rotarian Doug Sullivan. The Rotary Club of Huntsville recognized her tremendous contributions with a Community Recognition Award, presented to community leaders who make a significant impact in moving their community forward. “She was very deserving of that,” he added.

A woman of faith, helping others seemed to be Wendy’s mission in life, say those who knew her. Many also recall her husband Al, who predeceased her about a year ago. The two were inseparable; wherever you’d see Wendy, Al wasn’t far behind.

“Even when he started suffering from dementia in the last couple of years, she still took him along. She never left him behind. It was just a testament to how strong their relationship was over the many years they were married,” recalled West, who was still in shock with her passing. “Losing Wendy is losing a big heart in our community.”

Her Pastor, Jeremy McClung, said Wendy had been part of his congregation for the past five years. “She brought energy and a smile and a willingness to serve and to care for other people and she’s going to leave a big hole in our congregation,” said McClung.