It is with broken hearts that we announce the unexpected death of our beloved Louise Christine Papais on April 18, 2020, at VGH surrounded by her family.
She was born on February 23, 1967, at St. Vincent’s Hospital to Joseph and Anne Carita Papais, the younger of two daughters and grew up in East Vancouver.
After graduating from Vancouver Technical high school, she went on to study law at UBC and graduated with honours in 1993. After practising law, she returned to SFU to study Kinesiology, which led to her many years as a fitness instructor, also offering her time at several senior centres. But music was in her soul from an early age. Eager to play piano at the age of 3, she went on to complete all ten grades of the Royal Conservatory of Music and later achieved her Teachers Degree in Piano Forte.
She brought music into the lives of countless young children and was especially proud of the program she developed at Killarney Community Centre. Using her unique approach and style, stressing theory as the foundation, the students had fun while learning the basics from the ground up. Louise was loved by her students and became part of their family.
Louise was funny, had a quick wit, politically astute, strongly opinionated, and never afraid to speak her mind. She sought answers to every question of ‘how’ and ‘why,’ researching every angle about the world around her.
Louise was an exceptional knitter and created her own designs; many of her yarns were purchased on her trips to Italy. She loved holidays, be it Easter, Christmas, or birthdays. It provided her with an opportunity to gift family members handcrafted boxes, hand-painted Christmas decors, and thoughtful, unique gifts. Louise was an avid collector of vintage Barbie dolls, and it brought her great joy.
Louise travelled in Europe and had an interest in her heritage and ancestors in Italy and Finland. Those she met on her journeys remained her friends for life.
While she faced health challenges, she persevered with determination, courage, and an abundance of spunk.
Louise was a caring, kind, and doting daughter to her “Poppy” (Dad) and “Beastie” (Mom). She will be forever loved and missed. She will be remembered by many people whose lives she touched, sister Lillian (Dan), niece Jenny, nephew Erik (Zoë), grandnephews Ryder and Mason, loving friend Shawn, her uncle, aunts, cousins and friends.
A private Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church.