Morna Parker Obituary

Morna Parker died peacefully on April 12, 2024. She was 78.

Morna was the daughter of Dr. Murdoch Maxwell MacOdrum, a founder and second President of Carleton University, and Jean Isobel MacOdrum. They lived initially in Ottawa and then in Manotick, just south of Ottawa. Morna’s mother died of cancer when Morna was 6 and her father died of a heart attack when she was 9. Morna moved to Brockville and grew up with her aunt Frances MacOdrum and her cousins Bruce and Donald MacOdrum. She graduated from Brockville Collegiate institute and then from Carleton University in 1969 and became a teacher.

Morna taught English and Latin at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational School her whole teaching career. She made her classes fun. Morna loved working with young people. She led several groups of students on trips to Italy and Greece. She had a great love for Grippen Lake CGIT camp for girls and was its director for several years.

In 1985 she met Norman Parker on a bus tour of England and in December 1986, they were married. Norman was a widower from Brisbane, Australia. Norman had grown children and grandchildren in Australia and Norman and Morna travelled to Australia several times to visit with them. Morna and Norman were perfectly suited for each other. They both loved English and kept dueling dictionaries beside their bed to resolve disputes as to the meanings of obscure words. Tragically, Norman died in 1998.

Morna was a very bright, enthusiastic fun-loving woman and had many life-long friends.

Sadly, in her later years, she developed dementia and eventually moved to Helen Henderson Care Centre in Amherstview. Her family and friends wish to thank the caregivers at Helen Henderson Care Centre and also Stacey Hickman, Sandra Leaver and their colleagues at Kingston Dementia Home Services, for their loving and considerate care of Morna over several years.

A memorial service will be held at the chapel of James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd, Kingston, ON at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 11, 2024 with a reception to follow in the Reception Centre.

In memory of Morna, please consider a memorial donation to Carleton University to support the Collections Fund for the MacOdrum Library.