The family invites you to watch the Celebration of Dana's Life. Please click here

It is with profound sadness that we announce Dana Marie Austin – our much beloved daughter, mother, niece, cousin, and friend – passed away unexpectedly at the age of 51 on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

Dana was an only child born to proud and loving parents Bob and Vianne Austin on September 12, 1972, in Souris, MB. As a child Dana's kind and caring personality attracted many friendships throughout the years, some of which she still maintained through adulthood. In her younger years she enjoyed playing softball and piano. As an adult she held a special interest in storm chasing and watching her favorite movie, Twister. Dana could also often be found cozied up on the couch with a good book or shamelessly indulging in the latest Hallmark movies.

Dana attended school in both Souris and Brandon before going on to work in a variety of employment settings including retail, construction planning, and managing books. In her spare time she found herself getting involved in community ventures, most notably at the East End Community Centre. Dana spent countless nights working the canteen at the rink and tying skates for whoever asked. In the warmer months she helped implement the community gardens on the same property and spent many days weeding the beds and donating extra produce to the Samaritan House. Dana was a loving friend to the Assiniboine Food Forest where she has a garden named in her honor. She also played a role in starting up Crow's General Store next door. Most recently Dana had a place on the board for the Park Community Centre where she was passionate about having the building repaired or rebuilt to ensure a pillar of the community was not lost.

Dana was an unbelievably strong woman who never let the difficulties of life hold her back. From the time she was a baby she battled against heart issues and while it was believed she would not live beyond 3 years of age she defied the odds and lived out 51 beautiful years with her family. Dana suffered a major stroke in 2016 and in spite of the hard road ahead she persevered through the recovery process and continued to live her life to the best of her ability.

Dana held very special relationships with each person in her family and her absence will be strongly felt. She will be lovingly remembered by her mother Vianne Froese (Edward), children Kayla Drakeley (Garth), Joshua Austin, Katrina Andrews, Breann Nissen, Kurt Nissen (Ana), and grand-children Vada, Zane, Liam, Madeline, Raina, and Isabella. She will also be sorely missed and fondly remembered by her aunts Jo Williams (Trevor), Sharon Turner (Jack), uncle Ray (Vicki), cousins, other extended family, community members and all her friends she held close. Dana was predeceased by her loving husband Peter Nissen, her father Bob Austin (Carol), her grandparents Pearl & Harvey Austin, and grandparents Allan and Alice Smart.

We can rest easy knowing she is happily reunited with the love of her life and they are no doubt tying skates for the children at their local rink.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church, 635 McDiarmid Drive, Brandon, Manitoba.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dana can be made to any local community centre or the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.