MORI, Hikaru “Chic”

January 22, 1921 — June 13, 2020

Hikaru “Chic” Mori passed away peacefully at the age of 99 on June 13, 2020.  He was born in Kelowna, BC on January 22, 1921, and he was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mari Mori.  Chic was also predeceased by his parents Shigeru and Kazu; his sisters Emiko (Carl) Nishi and Mieko Ito; and brothers Teruo (Ted) and Akira (Shorty); as well as his sister-in-law Midori. He is survived by his brothers Minoru and Satoshi; brother- and sister-in-law Ken and Yem; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He attended Benvoulin School and Kelowna High School graduating in 1939. In 1945 and 1946 Chic served in the Canadian Army.  He and two other Nisei (second-generation Japanese Canadians), George Uzawa and Tom Tomiyama, from the Okanagan Valley trained at S-20, the Canadian Army Japanese Language School in West Vancouver.  After updating their Japanese military phraseology and completing Monitoring and Advanced POW Interrogation Drills, they were enlisted in the Canadian Army.   Following basic training in Little Mountain Barracks, they travelled across Canada to Montreal to meet their escort.  They then travelled to Washington, San Diego, Hawaii, Sydney, and finally, Melbourne, Australia.  While at their stopover in Sydney, each of the three was promoted to the rank of sergeant and attached to No. 1 Canadian Special Wireless Group. They were tasked with monitoring and translating Japanese wireless transmissions.  While Chic did not speak about his work, he did speak with great fondness of the Australians he met; he never had to buy a beer at a pub, ice skating in his tube skates, which had not been seen before in Australia, and of the joy of betting and winning at the weekly horse races.

On Chic’s return to Kelowna, he worked as a nurseryman in the family business and later joined Kelowna Nursery. Chic’s hobbies included gardening, photography, hunting, and fishing.  He was fond of his dogs Fritz and Can-D. Together with Mari, Chic enjoyed camping, fishing, and travelling with family and friends.

In 2015, Chic and Mari moved to the Highlands Retirement Residence where he lived independently until March 2020 until he suffered a fall.  He was transferred to KGH and a month later he moved to Brandt’s Creek Mews.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jim Emslie, Dr. Janet Evans, Dr. Tara Sebulsky, the staff at Highlands Retirement Home, the nurses and staff of Brandt’s Creek Mews’ Peach Trails, Dr. Jasmine Kerr and staff at KGH, and the friends who visited Chic.

Due to the current restrictions we are under as a result of the Coronavirus, a Memorial Service will be held at a later date. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.