Amanda Lai-Ming Pi

Amanda Lai-Ming Pi peacefully passed away on June 20, 2025, at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. She was born on September 6, 1952, in Hong Kong and was the second of six children. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Susan; son, Steven; grandchildren, Tyson, Arden, and Eloise; her siblings, Rebecca, Katie, Andrew, and Vanessa; second husband, Dirk; his children, Leilani (with her husband, Dustin) and Mark; and Dirk’s grandchildren, Lola, Delilah, Kai, and Everley.

Amanda was raised in Hong Kong, where she attended Ying Wa Girls’ School and developed a lasting passion for science and mathematics. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science with honors in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Hong Kong in 1975 and began her career teaching high school science. In 1979, she immigrated to Canada with her first husband, David Pi, who passed away in 2019. She later completed a diploma in journalism from the Kootenay School of Writing and spent two decades at Fairchild Television, where she founded Popular Lifestyle & Entertainment, a magazine that connected Vancouver’s Chinese community for over 30 years. In her later years, she married Dirk and found companionship and support with him, whose presence brought her joy and comfort.

Amanda was a skilled pianist who earned her L.R.S.M. in Piano Performance and A.R.C.T. in Piano Pedagogy. She taught piano privately for many years and became a respected ballet accompanist at Goh Ballet Academy, Harbour Dance Centre, and Arts Umbrella, as well as for Ballet BC’s adult program and Royal Academy of Dance community exams. Her musical range was wide, spanning classical, pop, Latin, folk, children’s music, and ballet repertoire. She often improvised music in real time to match the needs of each class—a talent deeply valued by dancers and teachers. In her final months, she donated her piano music library to a colleague who promised to keep her legacy alive.

Music remained a source of comfort and connection throughout Amanda’s life. One of her favorite pieces was Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, which she returned to often. It was also the last piece she listened to before she passed. In her final moments, it offered a quiet beauty that marked the end of a life lived with grace, joy, and purpose. Amanda will be remembered for her intellect, integrity, and quiet devotion to science, music, and the people she loved. Her presence will be deeply missed, and the silence from her piano will be felt by all who knew her.

Please join us in celebrating Amanda’s life on Saturday July 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Lord’s Love Church, 645 East 47th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. Reception to follow the service at the same location.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations can be made to support the Haematopathology Program Development fund at VGH Hospital Foundation. Donate at vghfoundation.ca/donate-memory.

Amanda’s ashes are laid to rest with David at Ocean View Burial Park, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby BC in the Grand Mausoleum 3rd Floor, Niche Room 318 Wall-B Space-5.