From the early days of fundraising for the Maranatha building project in Kallangur, Dell Waldron was involved.
Whether it was making patchwork rugs and cooking jams and other items for sale, making the jams and pickles used in the Maranatha dining room, running the jam stall at the annual fairs, or driving the shopping bus.
She was born in Sandgate in 1938 as the the eldest of four children, and lived in the Sandgate area all her life, apart from a few years spent teaching in the country.
Dell became a Primary School Teacher Librarian, working in schools across Brisbane’s north and the Redcliffe Peninsula until her retirement in 1998.
As a Christadelphian, Dell was devoted to serving God and others, and she was a much-loved and respected member of her community. She had a remarkably generous spirit and always gave willingly for the benefit of others. She raised thousands of dollars through fundraising to improve the lives of Maranatha’s residents.
After her retirement, Dell became a Maranatha volunteer and an active member of the fundraising committee. She regularly visited residents to do their shopping and change library books, and she drove the Maranatha shopping bus for almost 20 years, often shuffling her holidays and other appointments to ensure she was available for her duties. Nothing was ever too much trouble for Dell, and she found it difficult to say “no” when it came to helping others.
Dell was intelligent, quick-witted, and had many interests. She loved reading – both her Bible and mystery novels – and enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing golf, fishing, and gardening. Her garden produced much of the fruit used in her jam making. She also loved camping trips with friends and her faithful companion, her dog Mick.
Dell passed away in December 2016, but her generous legacy of love and service lives on in Dell’s Café at Maranatha – a warm and welcoming space for friends to meet and share happy times together.