Julia (Julie) Beaupre (Sviatko) died peacefully at RCH in New Westminster on May 26th at the age of 97. Julie is survived by her 3 daughters Denise (Bob), Karen (Colin), Julie (Mike) and her son Robert, 10 Grandchildren, 8 Great-Grandchildren, her brother Steve Sviatko, sister-in-law Irene Sviatko and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Julie is predeceased by her husband and only true love Wilfrid Beaupre, her parents Steve and Julianna Sviatko, sisters Maryann McDonald and Ethel Sviatko and her brother William Sviatko.
The eldest of 5 children, Julie was born in Felsoregmec, Hungary and at the age of 6 immigrated to Canada, where the family settled in New Westminster. She graduated from Trapp Tech High School and held a variety of jobs before meeting her future sweetheart Wilf at a Catholic Youth League event. They were married Nov. 1, 1947 at St. Peter’s Parrish and over time welcomed their 4 children, living for a while in Nanaimo before returning to New Westminster where, Wilf unexpectedly passed on June 5, 1965. Julie would carry on raising their 4 children on her own, first as an entrepreneur having a women’s clothing store in Sapperton she called Chez Beaupre Fashions and then as a medical office clerk at Riverview Hospital and George Derby Centre in Burnaby where she retired in 1989.
Julie spent many wonderful and happy retirement years with her dog Coco and many grandchildren at Leisure Park in Birch Bay, her little piece of heaven on earth. She was a member of St. Peter’s Parish for almost 90 years and was an active member of the CWL and Young at Heart Club. For years she generously knitted scarves and donated comfort kits to various recovery homes and shelters. Her talent for knitting leant to gifting hundreds of cotton dishcloths and scrubbies to family, friends and CWL bazaars. She was famous for her cooking, especially breaded fried chicken and the ability to make delicious soup out of anything.
Due to COVID restrictions, a private family funeral mass will be held at St. Peter’s on June 19th at 10:30 a.m. The service will be live-streamed and can be accessed through the church website on YouTube. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Royal Columbian Hospital, whom we would sincerely like to thank for their compassionate care of our beloved Mom and Grammy.