We are sad to announce the sudden passing of Miranda Lena Munro Friz, age 15, on April 13, 2020.
Miranda was born on January 15, 2005 in North Vancouver to parents Peter Friz and Karen Munro and big brother Owen Friz. From a young age, she was energetic, fun, and outgoing.
Even as a young child, Miranda impressed her family as uncommonly intelligent. In school, she became a straight-A student and routinely earned praise from her teachers and a place on the honour roll. She read far beyond her age level and had a gift for languages, which she demonstrated by excelling in Mandarin at Forest Grove Elementary School in Burnaby. Later, at Burnaby Mountain Secondary School, Miranda made a big impression on her extended family by penning a remarkably sophisticated history of her maternal grandparents’ immigration to Canada. She also showed signs of genuine artistic talent, attested to by the many pieces of her art hanging in her own home and those of her extended family.
Miranda was naturally funny and liked to play jokes, of which her parents were frequent targets. She once photographed Karen engaged on her phone and enjoying a Starbucks drink, then posted it on Facebook and captioned the photo: “A wild Karen discovered in her natural habitat”. She also renamed her father on his cell phone, “Naggy Cranky Tired Man”, a fact which he didn’t discover until some time later. Miranda loved hanging out with her friends as well and engaging in such typical teen activities as shopping and going to the movies.
Miranda loved animals, particularly the numerous pet cats of her family and relatives. She not only knew all their names but also had a real concern for their well-being. When some cousins moved from the US to Canada, Miranda made a point to ensure that plans for the move included their cat. Whales were another favourite, especially humpback whales, and she read a great deal about them.
Miranda was technologically savvy and especially comfortable with social media. When it came to mobile devices, Miranda always wanted the latest model. To afford such indulgences, she showed a lot self-discipline and put away every dollar that came her way – much of it cajoled from her mom and dad, and the soft-touch grandparents! She was an adept online shopper; once, when Karen was thanked for a thoughtful gift she knew nothing about, she replied “Oh, that must be from my personal shopper”, meaning of course Miranda.
Miranda delighted in typical teenage activities and was up on fashion trends. She loved makeup and having her nails done, and even the occasional pedicure from her doting Auntie Erin. Miranda once searched internationally to find the perfect pair of what became her “famous” Converse running shoes.
At age two, Miranda had been diagnosed with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a rare genetic disorder that caused muscles, ligaments, and tendons to convert into bone, thereby severely limiting her mobility. Although FOP was an increasing burden on Miranda throughout her life, she would not allow herself to be defined by it. Her self-image was not of someone who was a victim of disability, but rather as a regular person who happened to have a rare disease. As such, Miranda did not like to be singled out as someone special because of her condition. She fearlessly participated in the activities she loved for as long as she was able, such as swimming with her brother Owen, playing in the high school band and orchestra, and becoming a junior leader in the Girl Guides.
Miranda and her family became well known in the small but passionate international FOP community. Her mother Karen is a co-founder and current board member of the Canadian FOP Network which fundraises for research into a cure, as well as a former board member of the International FOP Association, and her grandfather Malcolm also served on the board of the International FOP Association. Every year the family hosts a “Walk for FOP,” raising thousands of dollars to support FOP research. Miranda was able to see many parts of Canada and the USA on FOP-related trips with her family, visiting Orlando, San Francisco, and Toronto, among others. Miranda, Karen, Pete, and Owen made many close friends in the FOP community who became more like family and who share her family’s deep grief at her passing.
Miranda is predeceased by her grandfather Carl Friz, and mourned by her parents and brother, grandmother Kirsten Friz, grandparents Helen and Malcolm Munro, aunt Anna Friz, aunts Susan and Erin Munro, uncle Blair Munro, and cousins Ella, William and Katie Munro, as well as dozens of relatives on both sides of her loving family. Miranda’s parents have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Canadian FOP Network (www.cfopn.org) or, for Americans, to the International FOP Association (www.ifopa.org).
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Miranda Lena Munro Friz January 15 2005 April 13 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique