Shunmoogam "Willie" Wolaganathan Pillay

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Shunmoogam “Willie” Wolaganathan Pillay on November 10, 2025, at the age of 84. A devoted father, physician, and community leader, Willie’s life was a testament to resilience and unwavering commitment to others.

Willie was predeceased by parents Meenachee and Kisten Shunmoogam Pillay and brothers Krish and Parmas Pillay. He is survived by his brother Praga Pillay, sisters Uga Nichols (Pillay) and Nat Moodley, children Simon, Mark and Soraya Pillay, grandchildren Stephen and Katherine Pillay and many nephews and nieces living abroad.

Born in Durban, South Africa in 1941, Willie came from a prominent family in Greenwood Park, a close-knit Indian–South African community. His early years were marked by both privilege and hardship. Losing his parents at a young age, he was sustained by the love and guidance of his extended family. As the eldest son, he stepped into a leadership role early, a responsibility that shaped his character and became a defining thread throughout his life.

Willie was deeply engaged in the struggle against apartheid. His activism was not a passing phase but a lifelong conviction. In 1960, as a student leader, he helped organize resistance activities in the face of government suppression, as did many of his family and friends. One incident of his time would be remembered as the Sharpeville Massacre, a tragic day when police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators, killing sixty-nine civilians. The government’s crackdown on student leaders that followed forced Willie to leave his homeland and seek a future abroad. He chose Ireland, a country whose own history of struggle resonated deeply with him.

In Dublin, Willie pursued medical training at the Royal College of Physicians. He embraced Irish culture wholeheartedly, so much so that friends often joked he knew more about Ireland than many natives. His years there were marked by rigorous study, enduring friendships, and a zest for life. In 1969, he met Margaret, a lab technician from England, who would become his future wife.

In 1972, Willie and Margaret immigrated to Canada, initially settling in Ontario, where Willie specialized in internal medicine. They married in 1975 and began building a family, welcoming their first child, Simon, in 1976. After several moves, they eventually put down roots in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where their family grew with the births of Mark and Soraya. Moose Jaw became more than a home; it was a community Willie helped shape.

For more than two decades, Willie served as a respected physician and community leader in Moose Jaw. He built a thriving medical practice, earned admiration as a cardiologist, and held key positions including Chief of Staff and Medical Director. His influence extended well beyond the hospital walls. Willie chaired the Canada Day committee, championed civic initiatives, and opened his home for gatherings that brought together neighbors, colleagues, and the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul. These occasions were not mere social events; they reflected Willie’s belief that life was meant to be shared.

The Sisters of Providence, a Catholic congregation, had a long-standing mission to serve society’s most vulnerable. They established Providence Hospital in 1912 and for decades provided compassionate service to the sick and elderly. Willie found in them kindred spirits and became one of their most trusted partners. Their friendship endured through countless celebrations, planning sessions, and joint efforts to improve care for those most in need.

Willie’s passion for elder care became a defining chapter of his career. In the early 1980s, he proposed replacing an outdated hospital with a modern, integrated approach. At age 50, Willie returned to school to specialize in geriatrics, a testament to his determination. For fifteen years, he worked tirelessly alongside the Sisters of Providence and government partners to bring this dream to life. In 1995, their shared vision was realized with the opening of Providence Place for Holistic Health, a state-of-the-art facility that transformed elder care in the region.

In 1996, Willie moved to Surrey, British Columbia, where he continued his work as a geriatrician in private practice and at Surrey Memorial Hospital as their first geriatrician on staff. His expertise was widely recognized serving as President of Medical Staff, Chief of Geriatrics and as a key stakeholder and expert panel member for Fraser Health’s “Code Plus” initiative, which focused on elder-friendly hospital design and improved geriatric care. Willie continued practicing medicine, reluctantly stepping back only when illness made it impossible to continue in 2016.

From 2017 onward, Willie himself lived in care homes, facing complex medical challenges with courage. Though confined physically, his spirit remained unbroken. He continued to lead in his own way, calling family across the globe from his small room, checking in weekly, offering advice, and sharing stories. His instinct to nurture and guide never faded but was rather taken by illness, despite a relentless battle against this inevitability.

A funeral service celebrating Dr. Pillay’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Home, 14831 28th Avenue, Surrey, BC. A reception will follow at the same location. All who knew him are welcome to attend and honor his memory. For friends and family across the globe, a livestream will be available. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to CanAge (canage.ca/donate), Canada’s leading independent advocacy organization dedicated to raising standards in elder care, preventing abuse and neglect, and ensuring dignity for seniors in long-term care and beyond.