Renee Mei-fei Elrick

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, colleague, volunteer, and friend, Mei-fei lived a life shaped by curiosity, quiet strength, and a deep generosity of spirit. She will be remembered for her warmth, intelligence, infectious laugh, and the way she made space for others wherever she went.

Mei-fei was born on May 9, 1936, in Shanghai, China, to the late Malcolm and Margaret Rosholt. Her early life spanned continents and cultures, laying the foundation for the open-mindedness and adaptability that would characterize her throughout her life. As a young girl, she spent several formative and much-loved years living with her grandparents, Sven and Inger Njaa, and her aunt Arna in Northwood, North Dakota. She spoke often and fondly of that time, recalling it as a period of safety, affection, and simple joys. Those years left a lasting impression and anchored her sense of family and belonging.

A gifted student, Mei-fei attended the University of Wisconsin on scholarship. It was there that she met David Elrick, a young Canadian soil science student, on a blind date. Their blind date marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Mei-fei and David fell in love and were married in 1958, beginning a shared life defined by mutual respect, adventure, and deep companionship.

Together, Mei-fei and David raised four sons, Stephen, Michael, James, and Pierre, a journey that took them across the world. Mei-fei embraced motherhood with dedication and grace, balancing the demands of family life with warmth, humour, and quiet resilience. While raising her family, she also earned a PhD in education at OISE. Home was always a busy place of dinner parties, conversation, good food, and wine and cheese around the island in the kitchen.

Guelph became the family’s long-term home as David joined the faculty of Land Resource Science at the University of Guelph. Mei-fei had a long and successful career in Teaching Support Services, where she helped professors become more effective teachers. Academic life fostered lasting friendships with students and colleagues around the world and created opportunities to travel and teach well into retirement. For 40 years, Mei-fei and David happily walked up the back hill together to work at the university.

In her later years, Mei-fei remained active in her community. She enjoyed Aquafit at the University of Guelph pool where she appreciated the routine, laughter, and friendship. She also provided Therapeutic Touch (TT) at Hospice Wellington and volunteered her time at the Guelph Public Library. These activities reflected her lifelong commitment to helping others, learning, and making quiet contributions to her community. These deep community connections helped sustain her through the profound losses of her husband, David, and her sons Michael and Stephen.

Mei-fei faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s with dignity and courage. Even as the illness progressed, she retained her gentle presence and the affection she held for her family. She was deeply loved, and her life was one of meaning, care, and quiet impact.

She is survived by her sons James (Cristine), Pierre (Elaine), and daughter-in-law Heather Allan (Garry); and by her five cherished grandchildren: Ayla (Jeremie), Nicholas (Nicole), Meghan, Jade, and Kellie. She was predeceased by her husband, David Elrick, and by her sons Stephen and Michael.

Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 2nd, at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, 1099 Gordon Street, Guelph. Donations in Mei-fei’s memory may be made to Guelph Public Library.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the incredible and kind staff at Riverside Glen Retirement Home who provided Mei-fei with a safe and loving home in her final years.