After a year-long battle with cancer Dawn left family and friends behind and embarked on her next adventure on October 22, 2013 just five days after her 73rd birthday. With her at the time of her death at Penticton Hospital were husband Bob Manahan, her daughter Kelly and grandson Spencer.
Dawn was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 17, 1940 and came to Grand Forks in 1944 with her mom and dad Stanley and Orma Orris and brother Milton. She remained in Grand Forks for most of her adult life until moving to Taghum, Trail, and Genelle in the West Kootenays, then finally Okanagan Falls where she and Bob resided for the past two years.
During much of her life in her hometown Dawn was a hairdresser and accomplished seamstress. Many of her creations included sewing clothes for her daughter and grandkids, creating bunnies and Santas, making many wedding and bridesmaids dresses and costumes for figure skating and drama productions. She also worked in the family owned Grand Forks Gazette for a period of time. Dawn’s love of people was the driving force behind opening up her home to many people over the years, namely many Border Bruins and Japanese Summer School Exchange students. Dawn was also a very involved volunteer, sitting on the Boards of the GF Border Bruins and the GF Figure Skating Club for years. Dawn also Chaired both the Grand Forks 90th and 100th Anniversary celebrations as well as supporting many other community activities. As well as helping others, gardening was also a passion of hers, she would be out in the garden for hours creating tranquil spaces. Her greatest loves though were her grandchildren, they were her pride and joy.
Dawn was predeceased by her parents, and grandson Andrew Dean Henniger. Surviving Dawn is her husband Bob, daughter Kelly Henniger of Trail BC, and grandchildren Spencer and Carley Henniger of Trail, B.C. as well as her brother Milton Orris (Ruth Campbell) of Summerland, BC.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday Nov. 2nd at 2:30 p.m. at the Summerland Funeral Home Chapel, 13205 Rosedale Ave. followed by a reception at the Summerland Legion Hall. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made in her name to the Moog and Friends Hospice House 1701 Government Street, Penticton B.C. V2A 8J7. Cremains will be interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Grand Forks, in the springtime.
Summing up their relationship her husband Bob wrote, “Our time together was very short but precious, sharing our lives filled with love and laughter”.