Obituary of Dr. Suna Smith

Dr. Suna Anne Smith of Camrose passed away on Friday, July 8, 2016 at the age of 80 years. Suna Anne Smith, neé Bulgun, was born April 23, 1936 to Kamer Ökmen and Riza Bulgun in Izmir, Turkey. During a time of progressive Islam, Suna's mother Kamer worked as a bank manager and Suna was afforded the privilege of being educated to the highest level. As a youth, her interests included her studies, mandolin and tennis; and she eventually chose medicine as her career—entering medical school at the University of Ankara, in Turkey. Upon graduating from medical school, she was offered a residency position at McGill University in Montreal where she began her training in psychiatry. Her studies eventually brought her to the University of Alberta in Edmonton where she met her soon-to-be husband, Alan Gerald Smith, who was completing his residency training in surgery. They fell in love and were married in Camrose at St. Francis Xavier Church on July 7, 1962. Suna and Alan recently celebrated the 54th anniversary of their marriage. Suna gave birth to three children and is survived by her husband Alan, her three children Jacqueline, Michael and Thomas; seven grandchildren Katarina, Tamara, Catalina; Brooke and Brandon; Kiana and Thomas. Her first great grandchild, Charlotte Sophia, was born April 10, 2016. Suna had the pleasure of meeting baby Charlotte for the first time just hours before she passed and enjoyed singing, dancing and remembering all of her children and grandchildren as babies. She came to our Lord Jesus Christ through her close relationship with the Sisters of Providence and Father Bonner. Suna lived as fiercely as she loved, travelling to all corners of the globe, hiking remote mountains and rain forests, sailing distant oceans and seas, and walking the most exotic of beaches. She often told us that at the end of her life, she hoped to be able to say that she had drank a hell of a lot of champagne - as she truly valued the importance of celebration. A Prayer Vigil was held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 14, 2016 from St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Joseph Jacobson officiating. Interment has taken place in the Camrose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the charity of one's choice.