Obituaries

Maureen Patricia Paterson passed away on Wednesday, April 12 from complications related to ALS. Maureen was diagnosed with the disease in November and it progressed with unexpected speed, robbing her of the things that she valued most in life – her ability to talk with her friends and the ability to knit lovely creations for those who needed them.

Maureen was born in Regina in 1946 and moved to Hamilton, Ontario where she met her husband-to-be, John at MacMaster University. Together they decided to widen their horizons and moved to Vancouver in 1972. John was a practicing magician and Maureen decided that he needed a partner in the show and she was determined that it would be her. They began to work on a two person magic show, performing in local venues, eventually booking a summer on an Alaskan cruise ship where they honed the act into a unique comedy/magic show featuring Maureen’s outgoing character, Pandora.

Their magic career took them all across Canada and into the United States where Maureen was proud to be welcomed into the male-dominated magical halls of the Magic Castle in Hollywood. After other adventures on board cruise ships that took her half way around the world, she eventually found herself back in Vancouver where she co-managed a magic studio for 4 years. Maureen’s horizons widened to include working for the Canadian Federal Government, teaching fitness classes, opening a shiatsu therapy studio, and later spending 4 years living and teaching in Japan.

Throughout all of these adventures, Maureen’s most enduring passion was found in the art of knitting, in which she excelled and flourished. Maureen created thousands of lovely knitted creations for family, friends and for sale, but she found the greatest satisfaction in Charity Knitting. Her creations were donated to many diverse organizations such as Variety Club, Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Hospital and UGM. She knitted hats for the homeless, chemo-hats, preemie hats, blankets for sick kids – an outstanding body of work, for the benefit of those who most needed a soft hand and a warm heart.

Maureen will be missed dearly by her husband John, cousin Carolyn Ryan and by her countless friends in knitting circles all over Vancouver who remember her mile-wide smile, her boundless energy and her generous heart.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Killarney Park Mennonite Church, 6426 Kerr Street, Vancouver. Friends are welcome on July 15, 2023 at 1:00 pm for a service in the church, followed by a meet and greet afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the ALS Society would be appreciated in Memory of Maureen - https://www.alsbc.ca/donate/.