Obituaries

Mickey, Marina Morgan, Nanny, GiGi, was born in March 1946, on dirt road in Verden Allar, Germany, to Girda Russinow and a man later know to be Reginald Dalby (the third illustrator of Thomas the Tank Engine). When she was 7 years old, she boarded the Queen Mary with her mother on June 2nd, 1953, landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

From that day until the last Mickey was a busy woman. She worked many jobs and ran many businesses; but when asked what her greatest joy was, she always responded, “my family”. She is survived by brother Marty his wife is Erin, her sister Olga, her three eldest sons whom she loved dearly and was proud of, even though she was unable to raise them herself (Steven, Dan , and John), her oldest Daughter Tammy Brown & her son in law Peter Brown. Mickey was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Harry Graham, Khalin Fairfax, Weston Brown, Presley Graham and wife Gabrielle Graham, Davonte Roker, Xavier Greenly-Townsend, and London Townsend. Even yet, her 16 great grandchildren: Myles, Maliah, Korinna, Nevaeh, Matthias, Emmanuel, Kaiden, Camron, Brandon, Lil Wes, Weston, Florence, Harmony, Benji, Kayson and Kingsley.

Mickey was an amazing woman and loyal to all she held dear. She was always there to talk when you needed a friend on Facebook or in the real world.

She is also survived by many many special friends including her dearest friends Bruce Saunders, Christina McDonald, and Holly Irving.

Unfortunately Mickey was preceded in death by her mother Girda ”Kira” Russinow, her beloved son David Morgan, and her youngest, Kira Morgan.

Mickey once said, the most rewarding thing in her life was being able to raise 3 of her kids, while regretting not being able to build a relationship with the boys she had during an unstable time in her life. She really did love spending time with her family and her many grandkids from Canada to the US. She was the best Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, etc. You could talk to her about anything and she would tell you the truth.

Once asked if she knew any funny stories, her response was, “I’m boring as shit.” We all know she wasn’t “boring”. When asked a series of more straight forward questions like (the following are direct quotes):

1. What is your favorite quality of yourself? “That I have a good-heart”.
2. What are 3 misconceptions people usually have about you? “That I’m dumb, mean, and harsh”.
3. What’s one thing people don’t know about you? “I’m a damn good cook, but a piss poor baker”.
4. What comes easy to you? “Showing my friends and family love”.
5. Who did you idol/look up to? “My mother in laws because they were hard working women that liked me more than their sons!”
6. Biggest regret? “That I didn’t go to school and get a better education.”
7. What’s the best compliment you have ever received? “That I look like Annette Funacello (I was in a look a like contest and won $50), and how good my kids and grandkids look.”
8. How did you get through the rough times in life? “Having family.”
9. What has caused you the most stress in your life? “Losing my children.”

Throughout her life, Mickey was a kind and generous helper. She enjoyed looking after those older than her as well as her family. She would do anything to see u smile and enjoy yourself.

Mickey hobbies included: knitting and crocheting, watching Coronation Street, reality TV, or playing games on her tablet. She made sure to take the time to call and talk to her family as well as fly to visit them for months at a time. She was definitely one of a kind and will be missed terribly by so many. While she is being so missed by her earthly family, her spiritual family is waiting for her with open arms. May she rest in paradise with her loved ones as her tattoo so elegantly said “ Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not”

A poem for Marina ” Mickey” Devellano:

If tears could build a stairway

and memories a lane,

we’d walk right up to heaven

and bring you all home again.

No farewell words were spoken,

no time to say goodbye.

You were gone before we knew it,

and no one knew why.

Our hearts still ache with sadness,

and secret tears still flow.

What it meant to hear you say, “I love you”,

we will cease to know.

We know you would want us to mourn for you no more.

You’d say “just remember all the happy times,

your life still has much more in store.”

Since you will never be forgotten,

we will pledge this to you today:

A sacred hollowed place within our hearts,

is where you'll always stay.