Kirsten Hanne Rasmussen

2026 at Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody, B.C.

Born November 17, 1938, in Aalborg, Denmark, Kirsten’s earliest memories included

the German occupation and wartime foods like oatmeal and turnips, which she later

refused to eat after having too much of them. Kirsten’s adventurous nature developed

early in life where she loved running freely about the family farms in Egense and playing

with her cousins among the cows. As a teenager she travelled by bicycle throughout

Denmark as part of the Girl Guides and took part in student exchanges in Norway and

Sweden where she developed life-long friends. Her curiosity, her enjoyment of

socializing with people, and love of adventure continued throughout her life.

Kirsten continued her education in Denmark and became a registered nurse,

specializing in obstetrics, anesthesiology, psychiatry, and geriatric care. During her

training at Randers Centralsygehus, she made lifelong friends with Greta, Karen, Jytte,

and Else, who enriched her life and provided many opportunities to party during nursing

school and every visit to Denmark for the rest of Kirsten’s life. After graduation, she

travelled throughout Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and northern Norway during her

nursing career before immigrating to Canada in 1963, where she married Carl

Rasmussen.

Kirsten and Carl spent the first few years of their marriage in Kelsey Bay before moving

to Ladner, where they built their family life. Together, they welcomed two biological

children, Charlotte and Christopher, and adopted a son, Dennis. As their family grew, so

did their projects. In the 1970s, Carl and Kirsten built an A-frame ski cabin near Mt.

Baker, Washington and 40 ft sailboat (called the Kirsten H.) in Steveston B.C. Once the

children were in school, Kirsten went back to work, first as a psychiatric nurse at St.

Vincent's Hospital and then as a geriatric nurse at Delta Hospital's long-term care facility

where she retired from nursing in 1995.

Kirsten travelled widely, both locally and internationally. Locally, she enjoyed many

sailing adventures with Carl around the Salish Sea. Every November, she and Carl

travelled to the Big Island of Hawaii, where they rented a two-bedroom condo by the

sea and welcomed whichever children and grandchildren decided to descend on them.

She also made a trip back home to Denmark every two years to visit her family and

close friends from nursing school.

Kirsten kept her hands busy with needle point creating many wonderful family heirlooms

for everyday use and to celebrate various holidays including Christmas which she made

highlight of the year for her family. Her Danish Christmas traditions have enriched her

family and many family friends who now enjoy the Danish-style Christmas celebrations

she taught us.

Kirsten had a deep appreciation for nature and loved gardening and mushroom hunting.

Every year, the garden in Ladner got bigger by one row (planted in potatoes) until the

garden filled almost the entire backyard. She was a longtime member of the Danish

Lutheran Church of Vancouver and its Ladies Auxiliary, where she often volunteered,

especially in the kitchen, making and serving coffee and smørrebrød. She also joined a

Hula dance troupe that practised at the Danish Lutheran Church, sharing her love of

dance and Hawaiian culture by entertaining at the church, senior centres and care

homes throughout the Greater Vancouver area.

Travel was one of Kirsten’s greatest passions. She especially loved travelling by boat,

whether hitching a ride on a tanker from the Faroe Islands to Rotterdam, sailing with

Carl, or setting off on a cruise with family and friends. After Carl’s death in 2005, she

cruised and travelled widely with her dear friend Inge, cherishing the adventures and

memories they shared. She also enjoyed nothing more than conversing with friends, old

and new, over a glass of wine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wine and conversation

gave way to lengthy phone calls with her longtime friend Betty and the creation of an

extensive garden on her New Westminster apartment porch, with the help of a dear

neighbour.

Kirsten spent most of her final two years at Swedish Canadian Assisted Living, which

was a wonderful fit for her. Much like living on a cruise ship, she enjoyed the

companionship of her friends, drinking wine on her balcony with Anita, the care of the

warm-hearted staff, the activities planned by the “cruise” directors, and the food, which

was pretty good too—they even served some Scandinavian-style dishes!

Predeceased by her husband, Carl, and her brother, Kurt Moldrup, of Denmark, Kirsten

is survived by her children, Charlotte (Jim Holloway) and Chris (Tina Tibbits); her former

daughter-in-law, Anna Lee; her bonus daughter, Sanne Bording (Ejvind); her

sister-in-law, Mona Moldrup; her niece, Helle Moldrup Celius (Bjorn); her beloved

grandchildren, Zoe, Zander, Nathan, and Angela; and her step-granddaughter, Natasha.

Kirsten will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, generous heart, and love of

travel, nature, and good conversation. She embraced life with curiosity, enthusiasm, and

a wonderful sense of fun, creating lasting memories and traditions that will continue to

enrich the lives of her family and friends. Her warmth, independence, and zest for life

touched many people, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

(https://www.heartandstroke.ca/) or the Danish Lutheran Church of Vancouver

(https://danishchurch.vancouver.bc.ca/donate/) would be greatly appreciated.