Verna Marie Huffman SPLANE

Verna Marie Huffman Splane, O. C.,
RN, MPH, LLD, (Hons).

A pioneering giant in the nursing profession and a gracious wife, friend, mentor, hostess, congregant and neighbor passed away in the early morning of January 10, 2015 at Crofton Manor in Vancouver in her 101st year. She served as a practitioner, civil servant, teacher, researcher consultant and author from the high Canadian Arctic to the African Sahara and on every continent.
  Verna Splane was born on November 23, 1914 in Peterborough, ON, the only daughter of Ada Pearl (nee Gerrard) and Ed Huffman. She was predeceased by her brother Earl in 1958 and help raise Earl's son Bobby until his untimely death in 1974.
  From a family of modest means, after high school Verna took a job as a nurse and was encouraged to go into public health. Together with some saved money and a scholarship from the Victorian Order of Nurses, Verna attended the School of Nursing at the University of Toronto obtaining a Diploma in Public Health Nursing in 1939. As a part of her scholarship, she worked for the Victorian Order of Nurses for the two years following.
  Verna continued her formal education at Columbia University in New York where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (1957). She continued her graduate work at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan where a social program was created for her take senior nursing roles when she returned to Canada. While studying for her Master's degree (1964) at the University of Michigan, she did field work with the US Surgeon General's office.
Verna was especially proud of her work overseas and particularly with the World Health Organization ('WHO'). Prior to her return to Canada, from 1959 to 1962, Verna served as a WHO nurse advisor to the health ministries of what today is Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and the British controlled Windward and Leeward Islands of the Caribbean.
  When Verna returned to Canada, she joined the federal Department of National Health and Welfare where from 1963-1966, she was a public health nursing consultant with professionals from many different fields developing policies that eventually lead to our Medicare system.
  In 1966, she undertook another national health planning project for the WHO in Libya. In 1967, Verna became Canada's first Chief Nursing Officer (the highest nursing position in Canada) at what is now Health Canada and served in that role until 1972.
During this period she found time to meet and marry the love of her life, Richard Splane. Distinguished in his own right, Richard was one of the chief architects of Canada's safety net. In 1973 they moved to Vancouver.
  From 1975 to 1984, Verna was a faculty member in UBC's School of Nursing and from 1985 to 1991 at the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria.
  Throughout her career as advocate for the health of the public, she concentrated on national and international health planning, policy development and the extended role of the nurse.
  Not content to retire into their golden years, Verna and Richard undertook a groundbreaking multi-year study of the role of chief nursing officers in more than 50 countries. Chief Nursing Officer Positions in National Ministries of Health: Focal Point for Nursing Leadership was published in Verna's eightieth year.
  Even in retirement Verna and Richard hosted young nurses in their home at UBC to discuss issues and challenges relating to nursing abroad.
  Verna was a devout Christian and until her death was an active and supportive member of University Hill Congregation and the United Church of Canada. She was privileged during her career to serve as board member, executive and elected officer of many not for profit organizations in Canada and abroad including the International Council of Nurses and the International Social Service, both in Geneva, the Canadian Red Cross, the YWCA of Vancouver, BCIT and many others.
  Verna was the proud recipient of many honours for her many contributions to nursing. She was an Officer of the Order of Canada (1975); the Jeanna Mance award, the highest honour of the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Red Cross, the YWCA of Vancouver, BCIT and many others. Verna was the proud recipient of many honours for her many contributions to nursing. She was an Officer of the Order of Canada (1996); recipient of the Canadian Red Cross Distinguished Service Award (1975); the Jeanne Mance award, the highest honour of the Canadian Nurses Association (1982) the Registered Nurses Association of BC Award of Merit (1987); Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals (1977, 2002). She has been recognized as an Outstanding Public Health Nurse by the University of Michigan and received several honourary degrees and memberships.
  Richard and Verna jointly received the Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing Award at Emory University (2001) and UBC's first joint honourary degree (1996).
Verna is survived by her loving husband Richard, and many friends, students, relatives, mentorees and others whose lives have been enriched by her life.
A memorial service to grieve her passing and to celebrate her rich life will be held at University Hill Congregation, Chapel of the Epiphany, 6030 Chancellor Boulevard, UBC at 1:30 pm on Sunday, January 18, 2015. A light lunch will be served at 12;15 for those who wish to attend (RSVP sead2711@telus.net) and a reception will follow the service in the Auditorium of the Chapel.
Directions to the Chapel can be found on the University Hill website (www.uhill.net).

Condolences may be sent to Richard Splane at: Crofton Manor, 2803 West 41st Ave, Vancouver BC V6N 4B4.
Condolences may be sent to Richard Splane at: Crofton Manor, 2803 West 41st Ave, Vancouver BC V6N 4B4.
  Flowers gratefully declined. Please consider a charitable donation in memory of Verna to the B. C. History of Nursing Society (www.bcnursinghistory.ca); the United Nations Association in Canada (www.unac.org) or the School of Nursing of your choice.
  Enlarge the site of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen
your stakes.
   Isaiah 54:2