Marie Unger Okun

Marie Okun passed away peacefully on July 28, 2023, at the age of 91. Her devoted love and generous spirit will be greatly missed. Marie was born in Ukraine, and after surviving WWII she emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba with her mother and five siblings after a short stay in Euskirchen, Germany. She met the love of her life, H. Norman Okun, in Toronto and they were married in 1958. They made their way to California in 1962, and ultimately settled in Lompoc where they raised their two children, Jerome and Naomi. Although the war cut her formal education short, she had a rich career that included working in the linguistics department at Canada’s ‘Ma Bell’ and as a part time teller for 25 years at Bank of America. Marie had many interests in her life and never sat still for long. She was an amazing gardener, an avid reader, a phenomenal seamstress, and was accomplished in old-world handwork traditions of knitting, crocheting and embroidery. Marie and Norm loved to travel, and together with friends they hiked and biked locally and throughout the US and abroad. This included a tandem bike trip through Germany and Austria when they were almost 80! Marie spent many hours volunteering through her church, packing Christmas boxes for underprivileged families and travelling to Honduras to help build a school. She always did remember and support churches and families in Ukraine. But her ultimate love was for her family. She was a devoted wife, mother and Oma and her greatest joy was being an active part of her grandchildren’s lives. Whether it was taking them on Bay Area adventures when they were young, teaching them to knit, picking seasonal fruit, baking holiday breads, rooting from the sidelines of various sporting events, or sewing the entire family matching holiday vests and dresses, she never missed an opportunity to be together. Marie is survived by her daughter, Naomi Miroglio (Joel) and grandchildren Gabriella Miroglio, Dominic Miroglio (Gillian) and Elena Miroglio. She is also survived by her siblings John Unger, Anne Muller (Richard), Waldemar Unger (Evelyn), Katherine Penner (Lloyd) and numerous nieces and nephews. She joins her husband, Norm Okun and son, Jerome Okun in heaven. A very special, heartfelt thank you to Marie’s wonderful caregivers at Nazareth Rose Garden of Napa. Their incredible care, kindness and devotion were a comfort over the last two years.

Marie Unger Okun

August 18, 1931 - July 28, 2023