Chosen over all the other adoptees by Raymond Racette (d) and Georgette Gagnon (d), Nicole was born in Quebec City on Jan 12, 1959. She left us on April 9, 2019, 7 years after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, interrupting a brilliant career as an obstetrician/gynecologist.

A medical graduate of Laval University, Nicole had a successful career saving the lives of numerous moms and babies.  She practiced her craft at Royal Columbian, Genesis Fertility, BC Women’s and ultimately as a clinical professor at UBC/VGH,  She was a no nonsense perfectionist and a strong advocate for women’s health.

At home she enjoyed cooking especially for the large crowd that would attend our Christmas parties.  Even more so, at the vineyard she liked to entertain, create itineraries, arrange wine tastings or just show off the view.  She loved wine and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the wines of the world.

An ardent traveller, she was just as happy in Times Square or above the Arctic Circle.  Comfortable in high heels or hiking boots as long as everything matched.  She loved the mountains, camping and hiking and would not object to a week at the beach.  More recently, cycling became her passion and she particularly proud to have completed the Whistler GranFondo, twice.

A loving mother to Julia.  She attended every school and sporting event with enthusiasm cheering on the sidelines, making smoothies for the volleyball team and even learning to scorekeep in volleyball,  Her mother/daughter trip to Australia will remain a lasting memory for Julia of how dedicated Nicole was as a mother.

As life partner with Franco, she was a perfect match.

Nicole received excellent care throughout her illness.  Special thanks to the doctors and nursing staff at the Krall Centre BMT clinic, Drs Bootsman, Song, Broady, Shepherd, Kur, Badii, Noureddin, and to the teams in ICU and Emergency including Drs Thomas and Finlayson.  At home Nicole received excellent care from the nurses at Pacific Spirit (Tracy, Laura, Paula, Kate) and the workers from Bayshore.

Nicole is survived by husband Franco, daughter Julia, and stepmother Pierrette Turgeon.  Predeceased by father Raymond and mother Georgette Gagnon.

Please join the De Pieri Family and friends in celebrating Nicole’s funeral mass at St John the Apostle Catholic Church, 5457 Trafalgar ( 39th Ave) on April 26th at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Nicole’s wish was that people donate blood.  Like her, there are many who depend on weekly or biweekly transfusions of blood products.  She needed over 100 units of blood products, mostly in the last few months.

In keeping with Nicole’s legacy of improving women’s health, a memorial fund is being set up with UBC.