Ethel ‘Sondra’ Dicks (nee Switzer)

September 1, 1938 – February 8, 2022

Ethel ‘Sondra’ Dicks (nee Switzer) of Goderich (formerly Caledon East) left us quickly but peacefully with family by her side, after a struggle with Kidney disease and a broken heart in the comfort of Georgetown Hospital, on Tuesday evening, February 8, 2022.

Mom was born Sept 1, 1938 in the tiny town of Holstein, ON., to John and Ethel Switzer.  She was the fifth of eight children.  Jack & Lois (deceased), George (deceased) & Betty, Lois & Wayne Dixon, Billy (deceased 2 yrs old), Ann (deceased), Lynda & Jim Mackenzie, Bryce & Sue.  She is survived and loved by many nieces and nephews.

Mom moved to Mount Dennis, Toronto; when she was a child but summers were still spent in the country on the farm in Egermont Township with family.  A move to the farm in Sandhill, was where she was living and working at Sears when she met the love of her life – Maurice Dicks.  They were wed on Sept 20, 1958 at the United Church in Sandhill.  Together they enjoyed the fun adventure of almost 62 years of marriage. Dad built our first home on the back of Grandpa Switzer’s farm on 2^nd line, Caledon East. There, Mom & Dad welcomed Paul (Rachel & Andrew, Matt) of Toronto, Kyle & Kelly (Jesse & Jamie) of Palgrave, Erin & Wayne Winson (Colleen & Abbey) of Georgetown, Lisa (Greg & Brent, 2 great-grand children – Carson & Hadley) of Alliston.

In 1972, we moved to 15 Sideroad, Caledon East; where Mom and Dad built our second home and stayed until their retirement.  Mom enjoyed staying at home with us until we were all in school.  Those days were filled with home cooked meals, the best baking ever (especially her pies and homemade bread), preserves every summer and fall – strawberry jam to die for; special money birthday cakes, hand made clothes, knitted hats, mitts and scarves every winter.  Mom taught Erin & Lisa to both knit at the ripe age of five and to sew not long after that.  Mom always had to keep her hands busy and she passed that along to us as well.  We all have so many fond memories of tobogganing and skating in the backyard.  Mom was the best nurse ever to Kyle who was always encountering some kind of catastrophe (usually wiping out on his bike right before the school bus came).  We spent many hours as a family snowmobiling through the fields of Caledon, Holstein and many other spots.   We all loved mom’s job.  Mom was a fixture of Nobleton Farm Service from 1975-1995.  The best perk of that job were new Arctic Cat’s every year (our fleet of 4 was always changing) This was especially enjoyed by Dad and Kyle.

Mom and Dad were involved in the Sandhill Snowmobile Club, Albion & Bolton Agricultural Society, and Caven Presbyterian Church.  Mom sang in the choir for our entire church life.  You know you have raised your children well when they can sit in the church pew by themselves and behave as their parents sit in the choir – and we were little!  Mom & Dad had many great friends involved in all of these endeavours. They spent every Saturday dancing the night away at Innis Lake.  Mom and Dad both got their motorcycle licenses when they were well into their 40’s and did many tours on Dad’s Goldwing.  We had many great vacations with family and friends at our Florida home.

After Dad retired from Bell Canada and Mom from NFS, they chose the beautiful town of Goderich on Lake Huron, to settle and enjoy a much quieter pace of life.  They made many life-long friends at Meneset on the Lake.  They enjoyed their family visits on the beach, by the docks watching the ships, meals at restaurants and some may have just enjoyed the shopping for fabric & preserves at the mennonites!  Mom and Dad also looked forward to making the road trips east to spend holidays with family.  They enjoyed travelling to the West Coast by trailer twice to visit with Aunt Lynda and family.  Bus trips to San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Baltimore, Newfoundland and a cruise to Alaska were the prelude to Mom’s lifelong dream come true to travel to Ireland. 

Sadly, we lost Dad very suddenly following a short battle with Dementia in May, 2020.  At the time, Mom was fighting her own battle with breast cancer.  Mom won that fight; completing her treatments on her birthday, 2020.  We finally convinced mom to leave her little house in Goderich and moved her on Dec 1, 2021 to Georgetown, to be closer to family.  She was settling into her little apartment at Mountainview Residence, and enjoying meeting new people.  We brought her out for Christmas and she spent 5 days enjoying family. 

Unfortunately, Mom continued to suffer with kidney disease and her broken heart.  Although she loved us with all of her being, her heart was longing to be with Dad and she didn’t have any more fight left in her.  We would like to thank the excellent staff at Georgetown Hospital for the care mom received during the last 4 weeks.  We are forever grateful to the wonderful staff at Mountainview Residence for welcoming Mom into their family.   We are blessed to have been raised by the best parents and role models and will continue to strive to follow in their footsteps.  We know they are together again and eternally having the best dance ever.  We love you!

Interment of cremated remains will take place in Caledon East Public Cemetery, 17022 Airport Road, Caledon East.

If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Georgetown Hospital Foundation, https://georgetownhospitalfoundation.ca/

Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com