Myrna Dearie

As we say farewell to our beautiful and beloved Myrna, we remember her for her generosity and kindness. She lived a life guided by love. Myrna was a wonderful artist who could see beauty in all things. There was a childlike innocence about her, and she was intelligent, endlessly funny and had an incredible sense of right and good. She was a shiny example of what it means to be an extraordinary human being. Her family and friends were everything to her, and despite hurdles along the way, Myrna could always find the flowers and diamonds in life.

Spending even a little bit of time with Myrna gave us a sense of worthiness and possibilities. She made you feel that you could do absolutely anything. She saw great things in us that we could not even see in ourselves. We always knew she was on our side.

Myrna had an extraordinary ability to see the good in everyone she met. Her heart was open and true, Myrna made friends wherever she went.

Myrna’s interests and talents were so many. She simply loved everything, fine pottery and movies, kids, garage sales, nature, anything to do with art and pets of any kind! Myrna was a great seamstress and a naturally good cook, her dishes were colorful and delicious, and of course the presentation had to be beautiful!

Music was her magical potion for joy! She loved to share her musical discoveries and was a walking-encyclopedia of lyrics and songs. Her knowledge of music was exceptional. She was a great influence on all of us when it came to music. Myrna loved and attended countless concerts from a very young age, and kept an amazingly extensive collection of albums by so many different artists. Music was part of every single day, it was in her veins and in her soul. Listening and singing along made her so happy. Music was her refuge through difficult and sad times.

Myrna was born in San Diego in 1953, she lived here all her life, she loved being a California girl. She spent as much time as she could at the beach and the desert, they were her favorites. Having grown up in the 1960s, Myrna embodied the essence of that time. She never lost the principles of love and peace.

Myrna lived in Bonita with her beloved husband Mike until his passing in 2013. Myrna and Mike were so sweet together for 40 years. Afterward, she shared a harmonious and loving home with her wonderful friends Angela and John. It was a peaceful sanctuary, where love and laughter ruled the day. Her sweet big brother, Bobby, who was a lifelong true-blue friend, visited her every morning, bringing yummy treats and joyful company. They enjoyed reading the newspaper together, playing with the doggies and solving Wordle every day! Attending Comic Con was a yearly tradition. Bobby helped so much with her care in recent years.

Myrna was smart and curious and loved to learn. School was a delight for her. She was an avid reader, a talented photographer and a fantastic artist and a ballerina. She was also a gifted writer. In fact, teachers were known to have kept some of her written work for themselves. She was always the star in her art classes. Myrna attended and graduated from Mount Miguel high school and Southwestern College.

A devoted daughter, Myrna spoke only sweetly of her late father, Robert, always remembering him fondly as Daddy. They had shared a truly special bond when he was alive. Myrna took exquisite care of her mother, Laura, for many years. Each would say they were the best of friends. Myrna was her mom’s lifeline after our dad passed away. When our mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Myrna was miraculously able to enroll her in the Glenner Memory Care Center. At the time, the center had an impossibly long waiting list, but the director there made an exception for Myrna, as people often did. Her sweetness and warmth were irresistible to those who met her. The Glenner Center was a Godsend for our family, as our mom attended the daycare center for nearly 10 years. Myrna also carefully found our helpers to care for our mother, and thankfully met Carmen, who was with us for 15 years. Laura lived to be nearly 97.

The eldest of six children, Myrna was our joyful pied piper, our center and protector. She was a sweet, creative, hilariously funny big sister. She was an enlightened soul who seemed to know at least something about everything. Throughout our lives we spent hours on the phone, laughing and reminiscing about our childhood memories. She was very wise and would help you find the answer, every time. Myrna’s courage and support carried us through many struggles; she was always the one to help when we needed her. Nothing was insurmountable in her eyes. She was a natural healer. The future now is impossible to imagine without her.

Myrna is survived by so many who love her. Her lovely and loyal best friend of 45 years, Angela, fellow artist and soul sister of a million happy adventures, who when trouble came, unselfishly cared for Myrna. It was a remarkable expression of love to behold. She was there for every doctor’s visit, every chemotherapy treatment and every hospital stay. Angela never left her side. Myrna is survived by her sweet boy, John, who loved and cared for her with gentle tenderness every day. They met 26 years ago at the swap meet and became instant friends, they shared a deep love for colorful humor, photography, scary movies, and old westerns like the TV show the “ Lawman.”

She is survived by her beloved brothers, Ralph, Bobby and Alex, her sisters Gerry, Mimi, Jessy and Dianne, nieces Courtney, Joanne, Rhonda, and Hannah, nephews Robbie, Stuart, Jesse and Matthew, Her cousins, Francine, Jenny, David, Alani, Monica, Joe William, Nathan and Azaria. Great nephews Taylor, Jake, Great niece Megan.

And of course, her constant companion, baby Yeti.

Myrna’s brother, Alan recently left us. He and Myrna were very close since their teens and loved each other dearly. Her brother Richie, who passed away a few years ago, was also someone she cared about very much.

Myrna also leaves behind so many dear, dear friends who were just as much a part of her family. She was their beautiful, rare jewel, a once-in-a-lifetime gift.

To our wonderful Myrna, we were always drawn to your goodness, your face lit up when any of us entered the room. We will miss you every minute of every day for the rest of our lives. You will be in our dreams and our hearts until we see you again someday. We will never stop remembering how bravely you fought and endured so much for just a little more time with us. It was a very difficult 12-year journey.

Throughout your life your faith in God’s grace gave you strength and guidance. On so many occasions you counseled us to trust in Him. In your final days you asked Jesus to take you home. You are in his loving arms now, and free.

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Please join us at 12:30 PM, on December 4, 2025 at the Little Chapel of the Roses to celebrate our wonderful Myrna.

Also, immediately following the service above, there will be a reception at the Sweetwater Women’s Club in Bonita to honor our sweet girl.

In lieu of flowers, please give the gift of blood or donate to the San Diego Blood Bank in honor of Myrna Dearie.