MCKEOWN, Myrna Louise, in her 85th year, peacefully departed, surrounded by love, at Georgetown Hospital on August 30th, 2024. Myrna’s pride and joy was her family: daughters, Sherry and Lisa, son-in-law Mike Hunchak, grandchildren Carli and Cameron and their 2 dogs, Charlie and Connor. Lovingly remembered by sisters Joyce Fletcher (Paul), Bonnie Scheel (Bill), and brother Lorne Ames. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Donald of 58 years, her younger sister Penny, her mother Elizabeth and her father Homer.
Myrna was the eldest of five children. Born and raised in Kenora and Keewatin, she talked fondly of growing up in Northwestern Ontario. The summers she spent on the water and how she told “a story” to get her first job at 12, claiming to be 14. She was a hard worker from the start. She went on to a career as a civilian with the OPP (Port Arthur Division) and the Ontario Psychiatric Hospital.
Myrna’s best friends were her girl group, called K11+1, the girls from Keewatin plus one from Kenora. Marilyn, Gayle and Helen are the names we remember and the trip to Bermuda in 1965 was by far one of Mom’s favourite memories. She talked about her love for Bermuda and the times they had. We were lucky to learn about Bermuda through her slides and scrap book.
Myrna spent most of her adult life in Thunder Bay, where she met and married Donald McKeown. She always got a kick out of surprising us with road trips to find deer, which usually meant we were going to Duluth. Pass Lake and the community of campers filled our summers. Mom and Dad enjoyed endless walks at the Marina, trying their luck at the casinos and cruising the streets in “Black Beauty”, their 1967 Buick LeSabre.
Her sewing skills and taste in fashion kept Sherry and Lisa in the most up-to-date and fashionable outfits. She took great pride in looking her best and the weekly Friday hair appointments lasted for years. Mom was our lesson and manner teacher.
Mom and Dad moved to Georgetown in May of 2021 to be closer to the family and into Mountainview Terrace, an amazing senior's community. Don passed in March 2023 and Myrna found it very tough to be without him.
We called Mom a little pit bull these last few years as she faced multiple health challenges with remarkable courage and resilience. She was a tough cookie to be sure. Speaking of Cookies! Mom loved her cookies and sweets. Thankfully, Mountainview always had an endless supply of cookies, and we all made sure to take Mom by the cafe on a cookie shopping trip. Some days, she would collect three or four cookies and then try and hide them on the way back to her room.
Her will and drive were second to none. She was the financial wizard of our family; part banker, accountant, budgeter and allowance giver. Mom was an amazing stay-at-home Mom. She was a lady through and through. Mom's love for beauty and life was evident in her passion for flowers. She could sit and stare at a vase of flowers or at a garden, for extended periods, admiring the colours, the arrangements and the general beauty of nature.
Mom was so proud of her kids and grandkids. Her first grandchild Carli is off to university in business studies where we know her success will mirror Grandma’s drive and determination. Mom beamed with pride when Carli was accepted to all the schools she applied to. Her grandson Cameron is an amazing athlete and student as well as having his grandfather’s sense of humour. Mom enjoyed family time and chatting with son-in-law Mike. She looked forward to dinner visits with Mike’s sister Karen, Mark and their girls, especially over the Holidays. Joyce and Paul’s visits to see Mom on her birthday made her day.
Mom is now reunited with Dad and they can get back to going for walks, eating ice cream, watching the Toronto Blue Jays, the Maple Leafs and playing cards with Dad’s brother Jim, Jim’s wife Joan and Walter and Joan Higgins. The six of them played cards whenever they could and ordered the best Chinese food to go along with it. Sherry and Lisa loved the times they played at our house because we got to eat too. Thanks, Mrs. Higgins, for sneaking sweet & sour chicken balls upstairs to us. Mom loved bowling nights and post bowling get togethers at Vicki Ann’s on Red River. If there is bowling in Heaven, Mom and Dad will be polishing up those bowling shoes.
Thank you to the staff and volunteers at Mountainview Residence and Terrace. Juliette, Zanrow, Nicole, Chantel, Novlet, Marvelyn, Riley, Olivia, Samantha, Harp, Donna and Sanya, the Willow Lane team, Debra, the ladies from Cancer Assistance Halton Hills and so many others. You looked after Mom like she was your family.
Thank you to Georgetown Hospital doctors and nurses in Emergency and Med/Surg and Dr. M.F. Poonah and Jeanette for your compassionate and excellent care and support.
Mom will be dearly missed by each of us and all the many friends and others she touched with her gentle way.
“Friends and Family Drop-In" will be held in the “Trafalgar Room” at the Jones Funeral Home, 11582 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown (905) 877-3631 on Tuesday September 10, 2024 from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Myrna’s memory to Cancer Assistance Halton Hills.
Online @ Cancer Assistance Halton Hills or by mail at: 222 Mountainview Road N, Georgetown, ON L7G 2R3
Losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know. But her goodness, her caring, and her wisdom live on-like a legacy of love that will always be with you. May that love surround you now and bring you peace. Mothers hold their children's hands for a while, but their hearts forever – unknown