Sophia Patel Andrews

From the very first day that Sophia entered this world, she was the kindest, most beautiful, and most loving soul. She radiated love, and every room felt brighter when she was in it.

Sophia was talented, brilliant, and so full of heart. Even at such a young age, she gave so much to her community and to the people around her. She had a remarkable way of lifting others up. She made people feel seen. She made people feel valued. She made people feel loved. She lived in gratitude.

Sophia had a deep and unwavering love for her family. Being a 3rd child, she quickly adapted to her family’s lifestyle. Her mom Anita, dad Doug, brother Conner, and sister Ella were her everything. They were her best friends, and she was their biggest advocate and loudest cheerleader. She was also an amazing dog mom to Nala, who joined the Andrews family in 2023 and quickly became her loyal companion. She was adored by her cousins Ailey, Neela, Finley, and Ian, a beloved niece to her aunt Rohini, uncle Sanjay, and aunt Karen, and a cherished granddaughter to Mangu Patel and Vernon and Raja Boyko. She was a friend to many, and a blessing to all who knew her.

For the first eight years of her life, Sophia lived in California, beginning in Pleasanton, where she and her family spent four special years and her Grandma Patel came to live with them. She loved her grandmother’s homemade Indian food and the “comforting” sound of her doing dishes in the kitchen at 5 am. The family later spent time in Piedmont, California, and Whistler before settling in West Vancouver. This is the place Sophia truly called home and where so many happy memories were made.

She was a vibrant and well-loved member of the Collingwood School community, halfway through her first year of secondary school. She loved science and approached it with curiosity and excitement. She loved her friends, and they could often be found together shopping at Sephora or scrolling on TikTok, laughing and sharing stories. She loved baking for people and Nala, the real, from scratch kind of baking that filled the house with warmth. Her specialties were chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, Dubai chocolate, and cakes. She made special birthday cakes for Nala who would impatiently wait to eat it. Everyone knew they were in for a treat when they heard Sophia was baking!

Sophia embraced life wholeheartedly. She played the piano, enjoyed cross-country skiing as part of Whistler Nordics at Whistler Olympic Park, and had recently begun taking and loving acting classes. She and her family loved beach vacations, visiting the Bay Area, and spending time in Whistler together. She loved exploring new places. She never passed up salt and vinegar potato chips, and garlic butter shrimp was always a yes, especially with a Shirley Temple on the side. Every year on her birthday, she blew out the candles on an Oreo ice cream cake, a tradition that brought the whole family joy.

Sophia’s life was cut tragically short on February 18, 2026. The team at BC Children’s Hospital did everything they could, but Sophia’s body could not survive the infection that attacked it. The devastation of this loss is immeasurable.

For everyone who had the privilege of being part of Sophia’s life, getting to know her, watching her grow, and seeing the beautiful person she continued to become was truly an honor. Her light will continue to guide us, and she will live in our hearts forever.

Rest peacefully, sweet Sophia (Sofa, Soph, Sooophu doffu, little hoonski).

Please join us for a celebration of Sophia’s life on Saturday, February 28 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at First Memorial Funeral Home, 1505 Lillooet Road in North Vancouver. Please dress in fun clothes to honor Sophia, as she loved fashion and shopping. If you have Adidas Sambas, wear those because she loved hers!