Celebrating the life of Wendy-Lou Pfeiffer 1948 - 2024

It is with extreme sadness that I announce the passing of my Mother. My name is Horace, Wendy's eldest son and I am raising funds to help cover the costs of the funeral and memorial services for Wendy-Lou.

Wendy was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia on August 30, 1948. At the age of 14 Wendy was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis and Henoch Schoenlein Purpura (kidney diseases). She was 1 of only 5 people in Canada with this diagnosis in 1962. Wendy had an allergy to penicillin which made treating these diseases extremely difficult and she was eventually hospitalized for more than a year.

It was while Wendy was in the hospital that she discovered her calling for nursing. The treatment she received sparked a lifelong passion for the caring of others. Wendy graduated from St. Paul's Hospital School of Nursing in 1972 and continued working as a nurse in Montreal, QC, Langley, BC and finally Winnipeg, MB until medical issues forced her to retire. Whether Wendy was in the ER, a personal care home or private home care, she treated every person with dignity, empathy and compassion.

In 2021 after having surgery for a fractured spine, Wendy lost her mobility to spinal stenosis as was committed to hospital care. Shortly after she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. At the time, the specialist doctors gave Wendy a life expectancy of 5 - 10 years. However, she suffered multiple minor strokes that eventually led to the loss of her life in just 3 short years. Due to the confusion caused by the dementia Wendy made some decisions that detrimentally impacted the family finances, including cancelling the life insurance policy meant to pay for the funeral expenses.

It was Wendy's request that donations be made in her name to St. Paul's Hospital School of Nursing. She wished to continue to support those who would become the future of healthcare even after her death. Wendy not only inspired others while she served others with love and compassion as a nurse, but also inspired everyone around her to become better people.

It feels impossible to sum up such a vibrant, complex life in just a few words. The truth is, Wendy will live on in each one of us. Her values and wisdom continue to guide us. The love she shared formed the cornerstone of our family and she has left us a legacy not of material wealth, but of richness in character and spirit. Wendy will be greatly missed as there will never be a way to fill the void we all feel.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and learn a little about my Mom, a person who touched so many lives in so many positive ways. We are extremely grateful for any and all donations as we struggle through this difficult time both emotionally and financially. Any money raised above the cost of the funeral and memorial service will be donated St. Paul's Hospital School of Nursing.