It is with deep sadness that we announce that Merna passed away at the age of 92 on September 04, 2025, exactly seven years to the day of the passing of her beloved husband, Louis. She was also predeceased by her father Lauren Pals, her mother Moly Kimmins, her sister Joan (Rudy) and stepmother Catherine.
Merna was born in Winnipeg, a city she loved and which helped frame her identity for the remainder of her lifetime. While challenges were numerous in her early years, they made her strong and helped her appreciate the importance of family, which would be central to her life going forward. A chance meeting with a very handsome French-Canadian member of the RCAF resulted in their marriage in February 1955, and soon Lou and Merna were off to 3 Wing in Zweibrucken, Germany for what would prove to be an amazing, if not necessarily easy, adventure.
Over the years they moved to various locations in Québec (CFB St-Hubert, CFB Bagotville and CFS La Macaza), Nova Scotia (CFB Greenwood) and Ontario (CFB Uplands and NDHQ) as Lou pursued his military career, finally settling in Ottawa in 1979. Moving was not always easy, but Merna loved that each move was a chance for a new beginning.
It was a posting to CFS La Macaza where Merna and Lou would establish a life-long friendship with a USAF couple beginning in 1968. Countless visits with Bruce and Betsy Cushman over the years to come cemented a bond that would last decades and which brought immense happiness, frequent bouts of hysterical laughter and incredible pride and joy to both couples.
Merna was particularly strong mentally and remained so until the very end. She was a voracious reader and also enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, especially with her dear friend Betsy. Her humour was dry, her opinions honest and unreserved, and she generally had little patience for foolishness. And in large part due to being a military spouse, few could match her organizing skills and her ability to purge a household of furnishings with unprecedented speed and commitment.
Without question, Merna’s greatest pleasure was being with her family of which she couldn’t be prouder. She was a devoted mother to Michael (Laurie) and Denise (Rick). Loving grandmother to Kaleigh (Jake) and Bridget (Rob). Great grandmother to beautiful Louise (born only weeks ago) and step-grandmother to Erin, Emily and Sarah. She was also a dear aunt to Kathy (Rob), Karen, Doug, David and Jean-Pierre, as well as the cousin to Klaas and his wife Sjany in the Netherlands. She also deeply loved her dear friend Betsy in Warwick, RI, and her sons Jeff (Jen), Brian (Mary) and Jerry (Wendy), all of whom were considered family by Merna.
Merna asked that we extend a heartfelt thanks to Bob and Betty Copeland for their friendship and help over the years.
Merna had tremendous respect and gratitude for the men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. She always felt that Canadians never truly appreciated the critical role they play with little to no thanks or appreciation.
In closing, the family would like to thank the caring staff at the Montfort Hospital who took wonderful care of Merna in her last few days. We also want to send a special thank you to Dr. Mark Nassim for his compassion and dedication to her medical needs over the many years she was his patient, as well as to the staff of the Greenboro Family Medicine Centre for their kindness and help.
A private interment ceremony will take place at the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood in the coming days for both Merna and Lou.
Love you grandma