Louise passed away at Ksyen Regional Hospital in Terrace B.C. on September 29th.
Born on Haida Gwaii in Daajing Giids, then known as Queen Charlotte City, Louise grew up in Masset, where one of her favourite jobs was managing the local Legion’s bar. She eventually moved to Ontario, where her daughter, Samantha, was born and raised.
Louise had a love for animals and dedicated time to training her dogs and entering them in competitions with the Borden Canine Association. In 2004, she returned to the Northwest, moving to Terrace to help care for her aging parents.
Louise became an active part of the Terrace community in many ways. She volunteered with 4-H, managed the Walmart Photo Lab, and made meaningful connections with international students, helping them navigate the challenges of living, learning, and working in a new community. Through these experiences, Louise touched many lives and helped others feel welcome in the place she called home.
Throughout her life, Louise’s greatest passion was art. She devoted much of her time to learning, exploring new techniques, and creating art in every form imaginable. She was never scared to try new things. Her creativity was a constant in her life, and her dedication to discovering new ways to express herself reflected a lifelong love of artistic expression.
Louise will always be loved and remembered by her daughter Samantha; sister Kathryn (Roger); nephews Cameron (Jaimie), Brendan (Leanne), and Matthew; and great nieces Tegan, Leah and great nephew Riley. Louise was predeceased by her parents Lola and Leonard and her brothers John and Thomas.
In her memory, may we be reminded of the importance of taking women’s health seriously, listening to women when they speak about their symptoms, and advocating for better awareness, research, and early detection of cancer. While there is currently no routine screening test recommended for ovarian cancer in the general population, knowing the signs and symptoms and seeking medical attention when something doesn’t feel right can make a difference. Let her legacy be a call to action: to prioritize women’s health and push for better access to care in the Northwest. Louise believed that no woman should have to fight to be heard when it comes to her health.