It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Colleen Margaret Eunice Murakami (nee McCormack) on June 4, 2017 at Vernon Jubilee Hospital with her family by her side.
Colleen was born in Ft. William, ON on March 10, 1944 to James and Mary McCormack.
After meeting her husband, Dexter Murakami in Toronto, they later moved to Calgary, then to Shuswap Lake before finally settling in Armstrong in 1979.
Colleen spent her early years as a nursing assistant (RNA) working both at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and then for several doctors in Calgary. She then had a career in insurance before retiring and focusing her efforts on quilting, sewing and canning.
Colleen was always very active in her local community contributing her time to both Community Kitchens and ESSA (Emergency Social Services Assoc.).
Colleen had a love of preserving and canning and looked forward to the harvest seasons each year so she could submit her tasty entries for competition. She submitted entries for almost 20 years to both the IPE and Salmon Arm Fall Fairs and felt very honoured to have received the beautiful Silver Tea Service prize from the IPE in the mid-1990’s. She later became a sought-after judge continuing to adjudicate for almost 25 years up until her health began to deteriorate in the fall in 2016.
Colleen also enjoyed being an active member of several organizations including the Royal Canadian Legion, Moose Lodge, Order of Royal Purple (female Auxiliary of Elks of Canada), and the Red Hat Society.
She was predeceased by her daughter Tracy, and brothers James, Patrick and Michael.
She is survived by her loving husband Dexter, daughters Nina (Robert) and Tamee, and grandchildren Christina (Nicholas) and Isabella.
Colleen’s life will be celebrated on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Alternatives Funeral Home in Armstrong at 2:00 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Donations can be made in Colleen’s name to Canadian Diabetes Association, Heart and Stroke foundation, and Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to ALTERNATIVES FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES® Armstrong 250-546-7237 & Vernon 250-558-0866