It is with the deepest regret the Buchners announce the passing of our beloved mother, and Nana, Muriel Buchner nee Duffey, August 3, 2018 in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Muriel Duffey was born January 21, 1937 to Wilfred and Martha Duffey in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.

She is survived by her five children: Ruth, Naomi, Jonathan, David and Christopher. Grandchildren from Ruth, Rachelle, Justin, Robyn and Max. Grandchildren from Jonathan and Blanche: Brittny, Courtney, Nathan and Joshua. Grandchildren from Jonathan and Marianna: Alexander, Aiden and Anthony. Great grandchild from Brittny and Tanner Wilson: Brooklyn. Great grandchildren from Courtney and Mark Wilson: Tucker and Hurley.

Of her five brothers and five sisters, she is survived by brother Clifford Duffey of SA as well as her much loved, sisters in law, Renska, Abeth, Christolene, Dorothy, Yvonne, Dawn, Angela and brother in law Chris and many dear nieces and nephews.

Loved ones recall her remarkable stories of joyously singing with her brothers, many untamed African adventures and hardships endured due to World War 2. A young, stylish professional woman working as a clerk for the Standard Bank Witwatersrand, Muriel attended Bible College. She then progressed from a star in sales and later as an executive assistant. These years mother Muriel – and husband John – lovingly raised their five children. Despite promising rewards for her diligent work, she embraced an opportunity to leave her beloved homeland and family to seek new opportunities in Canada.

Muriel loved the vast beauty of Canada with the understated kindness and generosity of its people. Ever humble, Mrs. Buchner strove for improvement. She disliked her accent refusing to believe Canadians admired it. Muriel worked hard to become and feel Canadian, always dreading being a burden to others. Hard work began upon arrival managing condominiums in a rough area of Quesnel, 1977-79. The local RCMP thanked her for helping change the ‘neighborhood,’ for the better. She rose to many challenges until finding fulfilling reception work at the Langley medical clinic of Doctors Gubbins, Coulter and Natoress from 1980 to 1984, while successfully running an award winning Coppercraft Canada home based business.

Kamloopsians remember Mrs. Buchner as the gracious, kind hearted and ever smiling lady who worked closely with her beloved son at Jonathan Buchner Gems and Jewellery, from 1992 to present. Her flair for fashion, amicable greetings, personability, kind disposition and intuitive conversations made many a shopper and traveler feel welcome. Her beautiful presence in the jewellery world will be sorely missed.

Aside from her family, Muriel’s great love was ‘her music.’ It fed her soul. Her dedicated membership in the Kamloops Choristers (2001 to 2016), echoed church choirs she graced over the decades since childhood. Singing ‘ her heart out’ with the Choristers at Carnegie Hall in NYC in 2006 to a standing ovation was a tremendous joy. Muriel supported many charities in Kamloops and abroad but took particular pride in being a long standing supporter of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. Our world has lost a guileless, humble spirit whose motto was to live one day at a time in service of others and to love our Lord God without reservation or expectation. This obituary would have her saying not to make a fuss and to go about doing what one can for others. The angels and ancestors are singing, graced to have you home mother, grandmother, sister and auntie.

Special regard and gratitude to Dr. Peter Gorman and staff at Thompson Rivers Medical Clinic, Dr. Jacobus Steyn, and also the staff at the Ponderosa Lodge Day Program and in the Respite Care.

A Celebration of Muriel’s Life will be at the Kamloops Masonic Hall at 351 Nicola Street on September 8 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the Buchner family asks that donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Condolences may be expressed at www.firstmemorialkamloops.com

• Date : 2018-08-16
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.