Una Elizabeth (Lowe) Hearn

Today, on the Feast of All Saints, we lost our dear mother Una Elizabeth Hearn, often referred to as a period of thin time, an old Celtic saying meaning this is a time when heaven and earth are spiritually much closer together. And today we know she is in heaven, the place she always believed she would rest, after a very full life of 96 years.

In 1929 Una’s parents, Robert and Bertha Lowe, were living in Burns Lake, BC. Robert a surveyor from Coupar Angus, Scotland, and Bertha a teacher from Hazelmere, BC, landed in Burns Lake as the need for a surveyor and a teacher was in high demand. Days before Una was born, Bertha traveled by train to Prince Rupert and then by ferry to Vancouver, to give birth to the first of her five daughters; Jeanie, twins Anne and Mary, and Marjorie soon followed. Una always said, when the twins were born, Anne was her baby and Mary was Jeanie’s baby to look after.

With Robert Lowe’s many surveying contracts, the family moved several times over the years, throughout the Interior of BC, the Cariboo and Hope, stopping for just a year or two, until onto the next contract. In these often-remote locations, Bertha would have about 10 – 12 students to teach in one room schoolhouses, where five desks were always occupied by the Lowe sisters. Mum had many stories and fond memories of these years, especially visiting the various work camps with her father. In Salmon River, Una won first prize for her knitting, which became a lifelong passion; over the years all her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren have sported her sweaters, scarves or cuddled under her blankets.

Una attended junior high school in Penticton, spending her summers swimming in the lake and picking fruit as all students were required to help with harvest. In Hope, she told of swimming in the Fraser River, where her father would tie the girls to a rope and if the current was too strong, he’d haul them back in! Una loved swimming and taught her children and grandchildren (and dogs) how to swim in the river – she had them tubing down the Cowichan with their friends and cousins at a very young age.

Una graduated from Duncan High School in 1947 and went on to St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Victoria BC. After graduating, Una traveled to Scotland to visit her Grandfather, a retired doctor in Coupar Angus. On this same trip, Una also stayed with her uncle in Devon, England, working as a paediatric nurse in Exmouth, where she met and married her husband Ted Hearn, in 1956. Una convinced Ted to return to Canada with their newborn son, Robert Harry born in 1957, who at the age of 6 months took his first long haul flight to Canada. They settled in Duncan, first on Allington Rd. and then to the property on Gibbins Rd. where Una lived until she moved with Sandy and Kyle to Port McNeill, BC. in 2017. Wendy Suzanne was born in 1958 and Sandra Ann in 1965.

In Duncan Una continued her nursing career at King’s Daughters’ Hospital and then the new Cowichan District Hospital, always working with children; watching Una in her late 80’s hold her great grandbabies with such ease, always with one arm and head in hand - she never lost her touch.

Una was involved in many activities, the Cowichan Bay Lawn and Tennis Club, field hockey, she played a huge part in the founding of the Cowichan Rugby Club, charity work, Eastern Star and the hospital auxiliary. Travel was one of her great passions and she and Ted traveled the world; she loved meeting new people and hearing their stories. But dearest to her heart were her family and friends. She was devoted to raising her children, extending hospitality to anyone in need, maintaining family ties and nurturing her grandchildren, her door was always open and welcoming.

Una spent her last years enjoying Port McNeill life, living with Sandy and Kyle, meeting new friends in the community - at Happy Gang a senior’s group she attended, Mugs Coffee Shop, where they made her favourite mochas and the church and congregation. The local fire department brought their trucks to the house with lights flashing and sirens sounding on her birthday, delivering birthday wishes and a cake. Last month, she was so fortunate to have Clifford Murray of the Canadian Tenors, serenade her in hospital, which really touched her. Una often reminded us that she was the oldest person in Port McNeill, and she probably was. The family is extremely grateful to all the friends and family who have visited or contacted Mum during this lengthy hospitalization, which always brightened her day.

Una was predeceased by her husband Ted, her sisters Jeanie, Mary and Anne; survived by her sister Marjorie, her children, Robert (Morley), Wendy, Sandy (Kyle), grandchildren, Christopher, Ashley, Heather, Britney, Jayne, Andrew, Kaitlyn and Alison, greatgrandchildren, Vivian, Carson, Charlotte, Milo, Rowan, Olivia and Cooper, and many nieces and nephews. Every time Sandy was going out, she’d say, “behave yourself Mum” and Mum always replied, “what for?” giggling at Sandy! She will be dearly missed by us all. Goodbye dear Gong, behave yourself xo

A Funeral service and burial will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 2:00PM at The Anglican Parish of St. Peter Quamichan, 5800 Church Rd., Duncan BC, V9L 5M3

A reception will follow in the church hall.

For those unable to attend in person, there will be a recording available of the original service that will be held in Duncan, BC on November 16, 2025 at St Peter's website via the following link: https://www.stpeterduncan.ca/programs/special-services

As Una lived so many years enjoying the Cowichan Valley, and dedicated years to nursing at CDH, we ask that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cowichan Valley Hospice Society 3122 Gibbins Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 1G2 or online at www.cowichanvalleyhospice.org in Una’s memory.