Obituary of Moonilal Sookram

Sookram, Moonilal passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at the Lloydminster Hospital. Mooni is lovingly remembered by his wife Barbara; daughters Carenza of Edmonton, AB, and Sephora of Olds, AB; brother Bridge Sookram of Trinidad; sisters Champa (Mohan) Bajnathsingh of Trinidad, Marmin (Mack) Mahabir of Trinidad, Sally (Royce) Pawlowski of Mississauga, ON, Kumarie Sookram of Scarborough, ON, and Annie Pawlowski of Scarborough, ON; sisters-in-law Roshelle (Paul) Malek of Red Deer, AB, Gloria (Bob) Berg of Marwayne, AB, and Gail (Ben) Malek of Mill Bay, BC; brothers-in-law Dave (Bev) Malek of Okotoks, AB, and Lawrence (Deloras) Malek of Weyburn, SK; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Mooni was born the second of ten children in Quarry Village, Trinidad, West Indies. Mooni had a deep passion for education and believed that learning is a lifelong process. He attended the Government Teachers’ Training College and later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. In 1968, he immigrated to Canada to accept a teaching position with the County of Vermilion River and to further advance his education. He obtained a Bachelors degree from the University of Alberta and Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Oregon, all in Education. He served as a teacher and principal at Islay School and then as a teacher at Kitscoty Elementary School, where he ended his teaching career in 1994. Mooni’s career in education included teaching, administration, consulting, research, and writing, and he was proud to be able to contribute to the field in these ways. He was most proud of the relationships he fostered over the years, and he remained keenly interested in his past students. Following his teaching career, Mooni, with his wife Barb, opened a Liberty Tax Service franchise in Lloydminster, where he welcomed the challenges of a new venture and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with his clients up until the present. Mooni was committed to healthy living and instilled in his loved ones the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He was an avid gardener; he prided himself on having a beautiful, well-maintained yard and an abundant vegetable garden. He loved art and expressed his artistic ability through sketching, painting, and photography. Mooni enjoyed writing; he authored several books and contributed to public discourse on current issues. Mooni will be forever remembered and cherished as an ambitious, hard-working man whose achievements were plentiful as he was devoted to his family, passionate about his career, and engaged in his community. According to Mooni’s wishes, no funeral service was held, and cremation has been done by Creech’s Funeral Home of Lloydminster. Donations in his memory can be made to The Canadian Liver Foundation or charity of choice.