Mary Hall

It is with great sadness that we said goodbye to our family matriarch on July 27, 2023. At the age of eighty-nine, Mary Hall (Heen) passed away peacefully after a short illness, at home in Kelowna, surrounded by family. The daughter of Aksel Heen and Olga Sivertsdatter Herje, Mary was born in Isfjørn, Norway on January 7, 1934.

When Mary was 7 years old, she and her father both contracted polio. Sadly, her father passed away at the youthful age of twenty-nine, leaving Mary’s mother to raise three young children during the German occupation of Norway in World War 2. At the end of the war, Mary’s Uncle Knut, who lived in Edmonton, invited her to visit. In 1951 at the age of seventeen, Mary travelled by herself, sailing from Norway to New York and onwards by train to Edmonton via Montreal. This amazing journey was a challenging one, as Mary did not speak English at the time.

After a year in Edmonton, Mary made her way to Vancouver to visit her Auntie Sylvia. It was in Vancouver where she met a handsome, young man at a dance at the Norwegian Seaman’s Hall, his name was Earl Hall. Mary & Earl were married in 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and settled into their new home in East Vancouver where they raised their family.

Mary is survived by her son, Bruce (Linda) of Port Coquitlam and daughter, Joyce (Pete) of Kelowna, seven grandchildren including Eric, Kristopher, Andrea, Alycia, Jennifer, Cassandra, and Gregory, seven great-grandchildren including Ethan, Orrin, Rebekah, Isaac, Noelle, Leo & Oliver. Mary is also survived by her sister Eldbjørg Berget and her brother Arve Heen in Norway, her sister Lilli Evenson of Abbotsford and extended family in Washington state. Mary was predeceased by the love of her life and husband of 50 years, Earl Hall, and her son Brian Hall in 2004.

Following her diagnosis in early May, Mom was truly overwhelmed by the number of family & friends who, at considerable effort, came to visit. She certainly felt love and support.

We remember Mom as an exceptionally strong, proud, independent, inquisitive, and feisty woman. She loved being with family, hosting dinners and spending time with her grandchildren. She had a brilliant sense of humour, was quick with the comeback and had the most infectious laugh. “We are going to miss that woman.”

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Botha and to the entire palliative care team that provided us with overwhelming compassion and support. Mary will be interred at a later date, next to her husband and son.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BC Cancer Foundation or to Central Okanagan Hospice Palliative Care Services.