To say that Dana Dadson has left his mark on Flin Flon would be an understatement.
Born at the Flin Flon General Hospital to Sybil and Corky Dadson, an infant Dana arrived at the family home on Queen Street to join his parents and brother Gordie.
Over the years the family grew as children Kathy, Sandee, Erinn and Patrick also arrived.
“We played up on the rocks where we built forts, picked blueberries and maybe [had] the odd fire,” recalls Dana of the children in the neighbourhood. “We played games such as hide ’n’ seek, red rover, cricket and skipping – even our moms joined. Everyone on the back lane had a burning barrel and we often stood around them in the evening. If we ever did something wrong, our parents would know before we even got home and out would come the black belt.”
School days
Dana went to the old Willowvale School, always walking to school and going home for lunch regardless of the weather. He recalls enjoying a large sliding hill where the Aspen Grove apartments now stand.
Among his teachers over the years was his Grade 3 teacher, Mrs. Russell, who became a lifelong friend until her passing. Dana still recalls her steel grip when she wanted your attention.
Other teachers included Bob Gogal and Norris Edwards at Birchview School and, at the old McIsaac, Lawrence Halldorson, among others.
At Hapnot Collegiate, Dana found one teacher, Mr. Payton, had a fresh attitude toward school.
“He’d give you assignments and if you did them great, but if you didn’t you failed,” recalls Dana. “I guess he was trying to prepare us for university, which worked fine for me.”
From the day school got out until it resumed in September, the Dadsons stayed at the family cabin at Little Athapap on Schieders Bay.
“We hung out with the Schieders and the McDonalds and Blacks, people who have shaped the person I turned out to be,” says Dana. “We all learned how to run a boat by the time we were 5 because we lived across the lake and if there was an emergency, we would have to take the boat to get help. We would take dad to the dock every morning where his car was parked so he could get to work and we’d come back to pick him up at supper time.”
Dana remembers when his dad, Corky, was hired by HBM&S, now Hudbay, as a linesman on the line gang. Corky couldn’t believe the company would actually pay him to work outside and do the job he had to do.
As a family the Dadsons never travelled much. There were, after all, six children.
Dana remembers Christmases filled with stockings hanging from bed posts and special treats like chips and dip, garlic sausage and Pepsi floats.
Career path
When Dana graduated from Hapnot, he still remembered how around Grade 6 he had thought about being a funeral director.
He had been discouraged by his guidance counsellor and his dad, however, so he thought maybe he could be a teacher instead.
Dana went to university and lasted about half a term. He came back to Flin Flon and saw funeral home owner Bud Rogan and asked him if he could be a trainee with him in the funeral business.
Bud told Dana to come see him the following day and they’d talk about it. Dana arrived at Rogan’s funeral home the next day only to be told Bud had died of a heart attack the previous night.
The next day, Dana got a job in the maintenance department of the Flin Flon School Division. He worked with the likes of Clark Nixon, Walter Gutterman, Delmaer Renyolds, Dick Webber, Dick Lyons, Nelson Brading, Stan Fisher and Glen Pedersen, to name a few.
Dana’s time at Parkdale School made a big impression, as this was when he developed a great admiration for education and teachers such as Velma Foster, Eleanor Sparling, Gail Seigel, Gail McKenzie, Diana Robertson, Karen Majeski, Dick Osika, Harry Antinow and Gladys Neufeld.
“I will never forget those folks,” says Dana. “It was a fun time and they truly helped me on life’s way.”
Shortly thereafter, Rogan’s was sold to Ron and Bonnie Folstad. Not to be discouraged, Dana approached them and was hired in 1982.
Dana started his course in mortuary science in Winnipeg that same year and graduated in 1984.
During his apprenticeship, Dana worked with the Folstads. When they left in 1985, Dana continued working and running the funeral home until 1986, when the Folstads decided to sell the funeral home.
“I went to see Jack Elliott at the Royal Bank and he gave me the loan to buy the business,” says Dana with a smile. “I worked alone, although Lorna Rogan agreed to drive the coach for me and help out when I needed it.”
Dana says he has received overwhelming support from the communities served by Dadson Funeral Home, which today includes himself, Darren Grant and Rhonda Scott on staff.
Serving community
Dana was a trustee on the Flin Flon School Board for 10 years and says everyone should serve their community in some way.
It was a learning experience he carries with him every day, he says, thanks to people such as Rose-Marie Ariko, Clyde McTavish, Clark Day, Fred Howard, Wendy Gregoire, Bernie Lynn and Brent Lethbridge.
Dana says trustees were always able to express their ideas and didn’t always have to agree to remain friends. The collective goal of everyone was to achieve the best for the students.
In 2003 Dana’s brother Gord passed away unexpectedly, shortly after Dana’s dear friend Lorna Rogan.
The losses had a real impact on Dana, who used the experience to better understand what the families he works with are going through. He strengthened his resolve to be more in tune with people’s feelings and requests.
Anyone who knows Dana knows he has a love for golden retrievers. His first dog, named Mrs. Wiggins, passed away at 11 years old.
Just recently, Miss Elly May, his companion of 11 years, passed away, leaving quite a void in Dana’s life.
When asked if he’d get another dog, he replied, “I don’t know if I can go through that again.”
While alcoholism is a problem among some, if not many, funeral directors, Dana says he was never really a drinker.
“But I would really be in trouble if I didn’t have my Pepsi and my chocolate,” he says. “I don’t know how people can perform properly when under the influence, but I think I may have had Pepsi on my breath a few times.”
Coping
Still, the question bears asking: How does he cope when he has to attend to someone close to him? Dana thinks for a minute.
“I can’t explain in words how we cope,” he then says. “I am truly grateful for the family and friends that are very supportive and seem to rally around me just a bit more in challenging times. It again comes down to service. People are depending on me to assist them and I want to be able to do that.
“Besides, having these experiences helps us grow and to improve our service, and confidentiality is extremely important to us. I want people to feel comfortable coming to me and talking about whatever their situation may be and know that what they tell me will never leave this room.”
When asked how he feels about his life and his contribution to the area he loves so much, Dana smiles.
“It’s very humbling to think that a little kid from Queen Street could provide such a personal service to the people of my hometown, and providing the best possible service,” he says. “It is not about the money but the service we provide at a time when people are grieving and often need the most assistance.”
Dana says so many people have been supportive of him that he does not know how he could adequately express his heartfelt thanks.
Thanks, Dana, for sharing what a positive, caring and sincere person you are.
