Mavis Oka Mitchell, Sikaapinaki (Black Eyes) was born at the Blood Indian Hospital on December 29, 1954, to Mr. & Mrs. Tom and Madeline Oka (nee Young Pine) and died April 29, 2022, in Lethbridge, AB. Although we are saddened as a family over the loss of our dear “Famous Auntie Mavis” she has returned to our Heavenly Father in his Kingdom of God. Survived by her siblings, Delroy Oka, & Ronalda Eagle Child (Cyril) and sister in-law Geraldine & Sharon. Also survived by her aunties Odile Day Chief and Bernadette Young Pine. Mavis loved all her nieces & nephews as her own children and their children became her grandchildren ensuring she attended their celebrations and events.
Mavis was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Madeline (nee Young Pine) Oka. Her maternal grandparents Joe and May Young Pine (nee Fox); her paternal grandparents Mike and Helen Oka (nee Weaselfat); her sisters Leita Big Sorrel Horse, Evelyn Bird, Martha Oka Minoose, Mary Cardinal and brother Alymer Oka, brother-in-law Dan Cardinal, nieces Corrine Big Sorrel Horse, Brenda Big Sorrel Horse nephews Ervin Big Sorrel Horse, Calvin Minoose, Justin Eagle Child, Tommy Eagle Child, Delbert Young Pine, William Many Bears Jr., and Thomas Bird. Mavis was adopted by late Mr. & Mrs. Harold & Verdun Chief Moon and by Mr. & Mrs. Billy Bird. Mavis was a descendent of the Many Children clan. Mavis knew many people and we apologize if missed anyone.
Mavis is triumphantly rejoicing in heaven as she missed her dear husband, Robert Mitchell. Mavis spent her life teaching the gospel. She had a strong faith in Jesus and would often encourage others in her teachings. Mavis would sing, to all her nieces and nephews, this song “Jesus loves Me!”
Early in her life she had a medical condition but despite this obstacle she lived her life to the fullest. Mavis grew up on the Blood Reserve and surrounding communities as her dad, Tom worked off the Reserve. She was a survivor of St. Mary’s Residential School and later attended day-school. Often her family travelled to the USA to attend full gospel camp meetings. In the summer months, her family picked fruit seasonally in their travels. Mavis had great love, faith, and she continued ministering in her travels for Jesus Christ. In her early twenty’s, she lived in Helena and worked as a Data Entry Clerk. During this time, she worked with computers, and we joked with auntie that her computer was as big as a room. She laughed. Sometimes, Mavis came home to stay with her dad, Tom to help in his care. Mavis knew so many people all over the world and this is how she became the “World’s Famous Auntie.”
Later in her life she met Robert Mitchell from Popular River, Manitoba. She married the love of her life Robert in Winnipeg in 1993. Mavis was so happy, and her family travelled to Winnipeg to attend her wedding. It was a beautiful wedding planned by Mavis. She was so proud when other family members married. Mavis & Robert continued to Minister the Word of God and people called for help from the Western Prairies. Mavis enjoyed listening to Robert sing his Gospel music while he played his guitar. Before Robert’s passing, he gifted her with a CD to help her when she needed him. Mavis & Robert moved to Calgary as Robert wanted Mavis to be near her family. In time, he knew he was sick and told Mavis for them to move to Lethbridge that she would need her family as he knew of his illness.
It took awhile for Mavis to grieve her husband but after this Mavis started on new adventures of learning. She enjoyed reading and started to educate herself on variety of topics. Mavis took Blackfoot, beading classes and enjoyed her crafts, gifting her projects to her friends & family. She attended the Foot Care Program at Street’s Alive and these professionals quickly took to Mavis and became her friend. Mavis was always brought to the front of the line, another client noticed that she was given preferential treatment and he called her “Princess,” so the name stuck. She just laughed when they called her “Princess.” Mavis had an infectious laugh. Mavis cared for all her nieces and nephews (her children); she attended parties and treated everyone special. Mavis was close with her nephew (late) Tommy Eagle Child; she ensured he had everything he needed as he was a single parent. She loved and cared for Tommy’s son, Huxlie Eagle Child again she ensured he had everything he needed. Auntie enjoyed shopping and invited family or friends out for a bite to eat.
We will miss our “Famous Auntie Mavis,” but we know in our hearts she is with her loving husband Robert, and they continue to sing for God himself in heaven above. Thank you to Foot Care Team of Lethbridge, Dialysis Team, recent Nursing team of the Chinook Regional Hospital for the exceptional care they gave our Auntie also to Legacy Funeral Home.
A wake service will be held at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston, AB on Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. The funeral service will follow at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston, AB on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 11:00 am with interment to follow at Blood Band Cemetery, Blood Reserve, AB.
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Mavis was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Madeline (nee Young Pine) Oka. Her maternal grandparents Joe and May Young Pine (nee Fox); her paternal grandparents Mike and Helen Oka (nee Weaselfat); her sisters Leita Big Sorrel Horse, Evelyn Bird, Martha Oka Minoose, Mary Cardinal and brother Alymer Oka, brother-in-law Dan Cardinal, nieces Corrine Big Sorrel Horse, Brenda Big Sorrel Horse nephews Ervin Big Sorrel Horse, Calvin Minoose, Justin Eagle Child, Tommy Eagle Child, Delbert Young Pine, William Many Bears Jr., and Thomas Bird. Mavis was adopted by late Mr. & Mrs. Harold & Verdun Chief Moon and by Mr. & Mrs. Billy Bird. Mavis was a descendent of the Many Children clan. Mavis knew many people and we apologize if missed anyone.
Mavis is triumphantly rejoicing in heaven as she missed her dear husband, Robert Mitchell. Mavis spent her life teaching the gospel. She had a strong faith in Jesus and would often encourage others in her teachings. Mavis would sing, to all her nieces and nephews, this song “Jesus loves Me!”
Early in her life she had a medical condition but despite this obstacle she lived her life to the fullest. Mavis grew up on the Blood Reserve and surrounding communities as her dad, Tom worked off the Reserve. She was a survivor of St. Mary’s Residential School and later attended day-school. Often her family travelled to the USA to attend full gospel camp meetings. In the summer months, her family picked fruit seasonally in their travels. Mavis had great love, faith, and she continued ministering in her travels for Jesus Christ. In her early twenty’s, she lived in Helena and worked as a Data Entry Clerk. During this time, she worked with computers, and we joked with auntie that her computer was as big as a room. She laughed. Sometimes, Mavis came home to stay with her dad, Tom to help in his care. Mavis knew so many people all over the world and this is how she became the “World’s Famous Auntie.”
Later in her life she met Robert Mitchell from Popular River, Manitoba. She married the love of her life Robert in Winnipeg in 1993. Mavis was so happy, and her family travelled to Winnipeg to attend her wedding. It was a beautiful wedding planned by Mavis. She was so proud when other family members married. Mavis & Robert continued to Minister the Word of God and people called for help from the Western Prairies. Mavis enjoyed listening to Robert sing his Gospel music while he played his guitar. Before Robert’s passing, he gifted her with a CD to help her when she needed him. Mavis & Robert moved to Calgary as Robert wanted Mavis to be near her family. In time, he knew he was sick and told Mavis for them to move to Lethbridge that she would need her family as he knew of his illness.
It took awhile for Mavis to grieve her husband but after this Mavis started on new adventures of learning. She enjoyed reading and started to educate herself on variety of topics. Mavis took Blackfoot, beading classes and enjoyed her crafts, gifting her projects to her friends & family. She attended the Foot Care Program at Street’s Alive and these professionals quickly took to Mavis and became her friend. Mavis was always brought to the front of the line, another client noticed that she was given preferential treatment and he called her “Princess,” so the name stuck. She just laughed when they called her “Princess.” Mavis had an infectious laugh. Mavis cared for all her nieces and nephews (her children); she attended parties and treated everyone special. Mavis was close with her nephew (late) Tommy Eagle Child; she ensured he had everything he needed as he was a single parent. She loved and cared for Tommy’s son, Huxlie Eagle Child again she ensured he had everything he needed. Auntie enjoyed shopping and invited family or friends out for a bite to eat.
We will miss our “Famous Auntie Mavis,” but we know in our hearts she is with her loving husband Robert, and they continue to sing for God himself in heaven above. Thank you to Foot Care Team of Lethbridge, Dialysis Team, recent Nursing team of the Chinook Regional Hospital for the exceptional care they gave our Auntie also to Legacy Funeral Home.
A wake service will be held at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston, AB on Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. The funeral service will follow at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston, AB on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 11:00 am with interment to follow at Blood Band Cemetery, Blood Reserve, AB.
Click to Send the Family a Condolence