Yola passed away suddenly at the age of 84 on the afternoon of July 27, 2016 while sitting in her favourite chair at her home in Sunshine Lodge in Drumheller. Her life’s work well done.
Yola was born in Luscar, Alberta, the youngest of five children. In the late 1930’s the family moved to Newcastle and then moved to Drumheller in the 40’s. Yola attended school in Drumheller and worked at Columbia Dry Cleaners and the original Corner Café before moving to Calgary to take a secretarial course in 1957. She worked as a secretary in a law office in Calgary and in 1958 married Henry Dyck. Together they would have four children. The family settled in Drumheller in the mid-1960’s and Yola spent the remainder of her life living in the Drumheller valley. Yola worked as a teacher at the Muriel Rowe School for the Disabled in Nacmine becoming the principal there in the early 1970’s. She later went on to work for the Yavis family in their restaurant for many years and then to the Drumheller Hospital until her retirement in 1997. Always willing to lend a helping hand Yola got quite involved as a volunteer after retiring. She spent many years at the Salvation Army working at the food bank and helped sort food at many food drives. She volunteered at the Drumheller Passion Play for a few years and helped out at the original Wayne bike rallies working in the bar. She also delivered meals for Meals on Wheels until well into her 70’s to local residents. Yola enjoyed travelling and went to Hawaii and Las Vegas with friends. She did many bus tours to the USA and different parts of Canada. She was a big Calgary Flames fan, loved Elizabeth Taylor and was the biggest fan of Elvis, she collected anything Elvis and went to Graceland for the 25th anniversary. Yola was predeceased by her parents Adele & Tony Mucci, her brothers Frankie and Gino, her sisters Angie Platzke and Linda Mucci, her daughter Adele, her grandson Russell Hildenbrandt, her niece Rose Marie Cameron, brother-in-law Clarence Platzke and many dear friends. She is survived by her son Rod, (Jill), granddaughter Stephanie (Nik) Briggs, Victoria and Catherine; her son Tim (Wendy), grandson Joseph (Stacey), Franko and Nash, and grandson Travis; her daughter Claudelle (Vic) Hildenbrandt and grandsons Brad and Rhett of Cloverdale, BC. A service to celebrate Yola’s life, to reminisce and reaffirm our faith that we will one day meet again will be held Thursday, August 4th at 11:00 am at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Drumheller with a graveside service to follow and lunch at the Parish Hall. There will be a viewing on Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm for family and close personal friends at Courtney-Winter’s Funeral Home. If so desired donations may be made to Drumheller DARTS or the Salvation Army Food Bank in memory of Yola.