Grace Erica Morley Dunn

It is with great sorrow that Erica’s family announces her death on Sept. 8 at the age of 98. She is survived by her son Tony, daughter Dr. Jenny Bell, grandsons Daniel Bell (Courtney) and Jonathan Bell (Sara), great-granddaughters Elsie and Keely, as well as relatives in Greater Vancouver, the United States, England, and New Zealand.

Erica was born in Cranbrook, Kent, England to Major and Mrs. Eric Clarke. Following secretarial training, Erica decided to become a nurse. In 1944, during the wartime air-raids, she began her training at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. In 1948, she obtained accreditation as a “Nightingale” (named after the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale). Erica’s career as a nurse was a perfect match for her personality, as she was blessed with an empathetic, caring and gentle manner, a cheerful spirit, and considerable charm. Indeed, she continued to care for others in her later years, telephoning and visiting many people who were facing various challenges.

At the age of 24, Erica took a break from her nursing career, working in Geneva as an au pair with the Van Berchem family. Erica went on to her work as a nurse in Paris, Baltimore, Montreal, and Vancouver. It was in Vancouver, during the polio epidemic, that she met and married Dr. Henry Dunn (who pre-deceased her in 2008). They had two children, Tony and Jenny, and Erica became a full-time homemaker.

Erica enjoyed frequent travels with Henry, accompanying him to far-flung medical conferences and consultations at hospitals in Uganda, China, and Argentina. In the 1960s, Erica and Henry bought waterfront property on Salt Spring Island. There, Erica honed her skills as a gardener in a challenging setting, coping with marine weather, deer and other wildlife.

Erica was one of the first volunteer public guides at what later became known as the VanDusen Botanical Garden. She greatly enjoyed her many hours of volunteer work there and was active for over 30 years. In 1985, Erica’s work was officially recognized when the Vancouver Parks and Recreation Board gave her an award for “outstanding service to the community.” In 1995, Erica published The Garden Companion, an introduction to the garden for new guides; it comprised over 150 pages and has since been expanded and converted to an online version. In 2016, Erica received further recognition with an award from the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association and the VanDusen Guides, “with the greatest appreciation…for 40 years of…outstanding service and dedication.”

Erica was also known for many other admirable traits, including a curiosity about the world, and a belief in the importance of lifelong learning; she regularly listened to nature, travel, historical and other documentaries on the PBS, Knowledge Network, and Smithsonian cable channels.

Erica had a flair for both drama and malapropisms, and often amused her friends and family with such interesting remarks as “It’s never too early for melodrama”, “I’m not apologizing – I’m just saying I’m sorry”, and “I’m quite normal normally.”

Unfortunately, in her later years, Erica was beset by macular degeneration, and became legally blind. She also had a minor stroke, leaving her with a limp and other impairments on her left side. Despite her disabilities, she exhibited a strong sense of independence and an indomitable spirit, as she had throughout her life. Erica persisted in going for daily walks and contacting friends and family, and even making new friends. Erica’s warmth and vivacity were infectious, and throughout her long life she had a real talent for friendship and making new friends.

Erica appreciated the thoughtfulness and care of many people -- far too many to mention here. However, Erica and her family are particularly grateful for the many years of excellent care provided by Erica's physician, Dr. Joy Russell (now retired). The family would also like to thank Dr. Russell’s successor, Dr. Cailey Lynch; the carers at Home Instead who looked after Erica so well in her later years – especially Leti, Cassidy, and Angelin; the many years of thoughtful care and kindness provided by Erica’s dear neighbours, Barbara and Jane; and Susan Mawhood and Marina Princz of the VanDusen Botanical Garden.

For those who might enjoy seeing some short videos of Erica, two videos of her 94th birthday celebration at the VanDusen Gardens are available at www.youtube.com. Search there using the keywords "94th Birthday celebration of Erica Dunn 1" and "94th Birthday celebration of Erica Dunn 2".

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale Anglican Church, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the Church Hall. If you wish to leave a message of sympathy or condolence, please visit www.dignitymemorial.ca In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation in Erica’s memory to the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, for the VanDusen Botanical Garden.