Arlene Hammond October 5, 1936 - May 9, 2024

On May 9, 2024, Arlene Mary Ellen “Chum” Hammond, our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend, slipped gently from this world, and into the arms of her beloved husband, who left this earthly world just five months prior.

Chum was born in Kenora, Ontario on October 5, 1936, to Mary Elizabeth (Palan) Hancock and to Francis Allan Hancock.

As a girl in Kenora, Chum was a Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT), a figure skater, and most of all a dancer. She especially loved to tap dance which continued well into her adult years. Chum’s love of dance lasted her entire life. In her teenage years in Kenora she worked at Jackson’s Tea Room, Log Cabin Tavern, and at Kenora Miner & News before moving to Dryden to work at St. Regis Consolidated Packaging Limited (aka St. Regis Bag Factory). It was at St. Regis where Chum met and married her dancing partner of 68 ½ years, Robert James (Bob) Hammond. Chum and Bob were married on May 7, 1955, in Knox United Church in Kenora. They set up roots in the outskirts of Dryden and built their home on Johnston Road, formerly known as Golf Course Road. This is where they raised their family and resided for 66 years. Chum and Bob celebrated an enduring love that lasted the test of time.

Chum worked alongside Bob establishing B&M Delivery Service which expanded and became a family business serving Dryden and the region. The business that they started nearly 70 years ago continues to operate today under different ownership.

Chum was a life-long active volunteer. She was a Brown Owl Brownie Leader, involved in Girl Guide Leadership, a volunteer in her children’s school and also for her grandchildren’s schools. In fact, she became the legendary Grandma of Hillcrest School Hot Dog Days.

Throughout her life Chum was active in many organizations including the Order of the Eastern Star, Rebekas, Dryden Curling Club, Dryden Power Toboggan Club, Loyal Order of Moose (Life Member), Women of the Moose, Royal Canadian Legion, Royal Canadian Women Ladies Auxiliary (for 55 years), Dryden Go Getters, Dryden Lioness Club, and a founding member of the Dryden Trillium Lions Club. She was bestowed the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for dedicated Humanitarian Service.

Chum always took extraordinary pride in her children and family. Winter months were filled with snowmachining and trail rides. Weekends from spring to fall were spent boating, fishing and on camping adventures with the camping crew.

Chum was truly a people person. She thrived on her family and friends. She was the second mother and Grandma Chum to many. The Hammond house always had an open door. Everyone was welcome, at anytime, for any reason for shelter, food, a drink, to play cards or a game of pool. The family dinner table more often than not was never just the Hammond’s.

Chum’s outlook on life was the more the merrier. Christmas was always spent with the Palan, Hancock, Hammond, Matthews, and many others who were family by choice. The Hammond Christmas Eve open house was the social event of the year.

As the years progressed with two of their children and their families living on Eagle Lake, Chum and Bob purchased a family cabin. Summers were spent at the cabin. The family cabin was the gathering place for fish fries, Thanksgiving dinners and for any reason at all. Today, the family cabin remains as a testament of Chum and Bob’s desire to keep it as a gathering place for the three generations of their family to enjoy.

For over 20 years, Chum and Bob enjoyed being snowbirds in Apache Junction, Arizona where they met their winter family of life-long friends. This also became a welcome destination for their children, grandchildren, and friends.

Chum was predeceased by her husband Bob Hammond, her parents, Dolly Hancock and Frank Hancock, brother Lawrence (Larry) Hancock, brother-in-law Carmen Matthews, son Jim Hammond, grandson Brendon Hammond, and nephew-in-law Rick Doudiet.

Chum is survived by her daughter Trudy Sachowski (Doug), son Doug Hammond (Diane), grandchildren Michael Hammond (Liz), Blaire Roberts (Graham), Karly Coutts (Michael), Alissa Kelly (Matt), great grandchildren Camryn, Ada, Mason and Emma, sister Lorna Matthews, niece Cathy Doudiet, nephew Ernie (Sam) Matthews (Joanne), several great nieces and nephews.

Thank you to Patrica Gardens Minimal Care Home, Shelly Hackl, Home and Community Care Support Services, Paramedic Services, Dr. Moir, and Dr. Latimer, for the support and care through these last years. Thank you to Dr. Pettinger, Dr. Wittig, Dr. Doiron, Carrie Doherty, and the excellent nursing team and staff at the Dryden Regional Health Centre for the palliative care and the dignity offered to Chum, and her family during her last few hours. To friends and family who rallied and visited, sent video clips, pictures, reflections, and their love – to support Chum in her final few days – you brought her immense joy! Thank you as well, to the Dryden Community Funeral Home.

‘Our family is a circle of strength and love, with every birth and every union, the circle will grow, every joy shared adds more love, every crisis faced together, makes the circle stronger.’