Lise Marie Anne (Paradis) Wiggins

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt Lise Wiggins passed away peacefully on April 19, 2022 at the age of 81 years with her daughters JoAnne and Michelle by her side.

Lise was born June 29, 1940 in St Hugues Quebec, the eldest of six in a Francophone family boasting seven generations of beekeepers. Lise was 16 when her family moved to northern Alberta where her father Charles Paradis continued the family tradition by starting a successful beekeeping operation (ironic since Lise would develop a fatal allergy to bee stings).

Clever and determined, Lise taught herself English by reading 'Gone with the Wind'. She graduated with honours from high school and attended the University of Alberta, where she met her husband Barry with whom she had two daughters. 

A teacher and single mother at 25, Lise developed a passion for flying while helping out as a spotter in a plane looking for wildlife for the Alberta Game Farm. She obtained her pilot licence and often flew with her two young daughters in an old single-prop plane to visit family and friends on weekends. Dauntless and determined, she faced any obstacle head on, whether it was landing her plane on a highway after it ran out of gas, or flying through a windstorm that threatened to rip off the wings of the aircraft.

That grit and determination served her well in life, propelling her to successful careers as a top selling realtor, and finally as a Notary Public, until her retirement at age 67.

Lise is remembered as a wonderful cook and hostess who loved to entertain family and friends in her homes in Gibsons and her winter getaway in Barra de Navidad,  Mexico.  Her turkey, tortiere and green-tomato relish and pickled beets were the mainstay of every Christmas holiday, along with the family Scrabble games which she often won.

Lise was a Master Bridge player, and loved travelling and gardening. After a debilitating stroke in 2017, sadly Lise was unable to do the many things she loved, but found comfort in the love and support of her close-knit family.  

We would like to thank the staff at Christiansen Village, Dr. Helen McCall, Tatiana Velasquez of the SC Hospice Society, and Dr. Carmen Goojha. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Debbie Peters from Help on the Way for her loyalty, friendship, and exemplary care for Lise after her stroke. 

Lise is survived by her daughters JoAnne (Greg), Michelle (Gordon), her granddaughters Clare (Máté), Chantal ( Ivan), Nicole and Elisabeth, and her siblings Martine, Jean-Luc, and Andree.

She did not want flowers or a memorial service, but the family will gather for a celebration of her remarkable life later this summer.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lise Marie Anne (Paradis) Wiggins, please visit our floral store.