Honora Jean Dunkak, born in Santa Cruz, CA to Katherine and Charles Coffey, passed away on November 11, 2021, in Poulsbo Washington at 89 years old. Honora attended the University of Oregon and graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Political Science with a certificate in education. Honora met her husband, Elmer Brettman Dunkak (Mo) while teaching elementary education in California. They were married in May 1958 and remained married until his death in 1998.
Honora and Mo had three children, two daughters and a son, in California and upon his graduation from Stanford they moved to Livonia, MI, where they had another daughter. They lived there for four years before returning to the west coast with a move to Mercer Island, WA. She lived there with her husband, four children and many great danes and cats. Honora volunteered her time to multiple organizations including Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, Girl Scouts, St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Mercer Island School District, Ski Club, Soccer Club, and the Beach Club. Honora spent the many weekends skiing and playing golf. During the week you could also find her driving her four children to all of their various school and sporting events.
In 1978 Honora, Mo and three of their children moved to Bainbridge Island where Honora continued to volunteer her time at numerous organizations. Honora also spent many years volunteering at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. In 1979 Honora returned to the classroom as a paraprofessional working until her retirement in 1998. Honora spent many years as a tutor, helping students through graduation and continued success.
Honora was a very gifted seamstress and found quilting to be a way of expressing her artistic capacities. She spent many hours volunteering for multiple quilting organizations and found joy in travelling to various quilting shows all over the country with friends and family.
Honora was an intense sports fan. She loved football, basketball, baseball, softball, track and any sports her children and grandchildren were competing in. She knew as much as anyone about the games she watched, whether they were little league, college or professional sports. Her favorite teams were the Seahawks, Sonics, WSU Cougars and OSU Beavers.
Honora’s greatest joy in life was her grandchildren. She and Mo bought a place in Lake Chelan to bring the grandchildren to for vacations. They would often spend their vacations with the grandchildren, finding fun events for them to attend. Upon Mo’s death Honora continued to spend time with her grandchildren. She attended as many of her grandchildren’s special events as she possibly could.
Honora is survived by her four children, Jocelyn Davis of Sydney Australia, Meredythe Behal (Steve) of Poulsbo, Darby Dunkak (Tien) of Baker City, OR, and Gerrit Huston (Jeff) of McKinney, TX. Honora is also survived by her two sisters, Suzanne Rennie and Kathleen Stone, her brother Tim Coffey; her seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren and her favorite companion, Chip.
The memorial service for Honora will be held on June 25th at 11:00 am at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1187 Wyatt Way NW, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
