Morna Sabina Unger

This beloved woman is sorely missed by her husband Dennis (married 45 years), her son Ryan (Patrice) and her five siblings: Russ (Dianne), Ken, Mark and Wes Knutson (Don) and her sister Rhonda Pierce (Bob). While we mourn mostly what Morna has lost, with her great love of family and life, we also grieve for what we have lost without her.

It was Morna’s patience, strength, sacrifice, good humour, forgiveness, hard work and wise and steady guidance that gave her family the opportunity to have it all at home for decades. She was the best wife and mother possible for them as well as a loyal mate, a committed parent, a best friend and a favourite hiking and holiday pal. The latter role could be challenging for her (and us) and it often led to her red faced “holiday look” as her son called it. But in our hiking prime, she loved ascending to the highest points of places like Alouette Mt, Golden Ears Peak and Mt. Frosty or strolling along the scenic ridge lines of Skyline 1 or 2 while enjoying spectacular views with “my guys” as she affectionately called us. Morna blessed her small family with decades of happiness, stability, contentment and most of all, unconditional love. What incredible gifts from an incredible woman.

Morna grew up on a small hobby farm in Port Kells and learned great lessons in life and love from her hard working, principled parents. She was very proud of her mother Kay and D-Day veteran father Rudy and all the contributions they made to their country, community and family. As the oldest child and daughter, Morna was given the job of “substitute Mom” and she babysat, diaper changed and did all the other duties that come with such a job. When her siblings got older she continued caring for and helping them in many other ways. Even when she began working full time in a plywood mill at 19, she still willingly did double duty for the youngest siblings. Her youngest brother was six when she left home and married. They all recall a big sister who was calm, loving, even tempered and often very generous especially at Christmas. She bought them all treats on paydays, read stories to them, bought one brother his first camera, was a patient and competent driving instructor and even loaned her new prized 67 Chevelle to one of her brothers for his trip to California with friends. The list of good deeds for her 1st loving family is a long and impressive one. She loved them all and they loved her.

When her own son reached school age, she rejoined the official workforce (for 22 years) in a job with flexible hours so she would be available to her son when needed and so she could also earn “outside” money to spend on her family. It was a very hard sell encouraging her to accept a pricey gift or buy something new or special for herself. Her husband often lovingly praised her as “the best employee in the whole world” because he could see that she was always incredibly dependable, honest, trustworthy, dedicated and successful in her job, infectiously cheerful during, before and after work and was very well liked by her co-workers and boss at Mark’s WW. When her mother-in-law Muriel became a dependent widow in 1997, Morna reduced her daily work hours and helped her husband care for his Mom at home for a year, adding caregiver to her roles of mother, wife and employee. Her empathy and kind spirit never wavered during this time.

Morna joined the interminable line of cancer patients at ARHCC in mid 2013 and fought the hard battle alongside them stoically and valiantly “for my guys” she said. But nature won and her struggle ended at Cascade Hospice with her husband on one side of her, son on the other, each holding her by the hand and telling her how much they loved her and appreciated all that she had done for them and so on.

Morna was one of earth’s kindest and best creations. She was strong when needed but shed many a compassionate tear over the loss and suffering of others. We love and miss you terribly Morna and will be grateful to you for as long as we live and hope that your intuitive belief in a spiritual extension is true and you’re in a better place where we'll all meet again someday. We were incredibly blessed to share our lives with you and to be loved by you and for that we have much to be thankful for. There will be no service by her request but comments about this great lady are welcome.

Grateful Recognition:

Special thanks to the remarkable Dr. Julia Bright for kindly accepting Morna as a new patient at a time of great need and for continuing to provide exceptional and friendly care during 8 palliative months including special visits to Morna’s home and hospice room. Dr. Wojek’s one home visit during your absence also provided much relief. Sincere thanks to the Chilliwack Home Health nurses, the Cascade Hospice nurses esp. the dynamic duo and also Dr. Bull for all of their kind and successful palliating efforts. Dr. Bull’s daily service to dying patients in two communities is outstanding. Even though most or all of the army of doctors, nurses and techs at ARHCC have likely forgotten Morna due to their steady volume of rotating cancer patients, we thank all those who gave their best effort for her.