Tribute

Myrna was born in Sudbury, Ontario to Rauha & Aimo Maki (Finland) and passed away in Powell River, BC very peacefully just as she had methodically planned on the morning of July 11^th, 2018 after a long struggle with kidney disease. She decided to go off dialysis once the fight was becoming too much and she felt confident that she could exit gracefully, and everyone left behind would be ok. She refused to become a burden to anyone maintaining her independence until the end. She also left miles of lists of things to do and organized everything into file folders and binders. Typical.

Myrna was pre-deceased by Tom, her husband of 55 years, in 2013 and by her one-year old son Clark in 1961, both whom she never stopped missing. She leaves behind her daughter Carole Ann, her son Tye and grandson James, all of Powell River, who have each agreed to carry out all her instructions. (She was always very bossy, being a Leo.) She also leaves behind her sister Brenda Bourdeau (Len) of Ottawa, Ontario; and several nieces and nephews. Her brother-in-law Chuck Leishman of Elko, BC beat her through the gates by 5 days, so she’ll never hear the end of that.

Myrna and Tom moved out to the BC coast from Ontario in the 60’s and settled in Powell River in 1968. Myrna became the administrative assistant to the General Manager of Macmillan Bloedel then later Pacifica Paper and then Catalyst Paper for 30 years. She served a total of 12 years on Powell River City Council and has been involved in so many different organizations it’s hard to list them all (usually as President), but most notably the Powell River Sunset Homes Society (seniors affordable housing), the Seniors Association, Far Off Broadway Theatre Co, Powell River Council for Arts & Culture, Powell River Film Festival, Powell River (Willingdon) Figure Skating Club and Powell River Minor Hockey. Myrna worked tirelessly for her community and never felt the need to take credit. Strangely enough even with being “Queen Bossy-Pants”, she hated public speaking although she would not hesitate to speak her mind whenever she needed to make her voice heard.

Myrna always put the needs of her family first and then the community next putting her own needs at the bottom of the priority list. Her presence will be sorely missed by her good friends and of course her family (once they get through dealing with all the lists of her instructions.)

Special thanks to Dr Rossouw who gratefully was there at the end, Dr Van Zyl, Dr Uhlmann, Dr Prakal, the fantastic dialysis nurses who she became very fond of and the great nurses on the 4^th floor who attended to her in the ‘Joseph Agius Hospice Suite.’ We are so grateful she was able to spend her last days in a comfortable room with friends and family at her side.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday August 3^rd, 2018 at Dwight Hall at 4pm (doors open at 3pm) which would have been Myrna’s 80^th birthday. In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted in her name to Powell River Sunset Homes Society charitable #107854853RR0001