Julia Margaret Paul

We are sad to announce the passing of Julia. Born in Kenton, Manitoba to Elliott and Kathleen Birdsall, she was the eldest of three children, brother David and sister Helen. The family moved to Fort Saskatchewan in 1940, then to Edmonton, Alberta in 1945 and finally to Vancouver, B.C. in 1951.

As a teenager she attended Lord Byng High School where she met her future husband, Allan Paul. After graduation she enrolled in nursing school at Vancouver General Hospital in 1957 and graduated in 1961 with a nursing degree from UBC and a group of friends she would have for life.

In 1962 she married Allan and moved to Victoria where Allan had begun his career as an Engineer with the Provincial Government. They bought their first house in Oak Bay in 1964 and in November of that year, their first son, David, was born. Their second son, Christopher, was born in 1966. In 1972 the family moved to Gordon Head on Mount Douglas X Road.

In 1982, Julia went to school in Minneapolis , Minnesota to become an Ostomy nurse. She worked as an Enterostomal Therapy nurse for VIHA from 1984 until she retired in 1996, then worked for the Ministry of Health as an auditor until 2019.

Allan and Julia moved again in 1996 to Central Saanich to join the neighbourhood on Pastel Crescent. Allan passed in 2020 and Julia remained in the house surrounded and supported by her neighbours until her passing.

Julia was a very social person and was involved with the University Women’s Club of Victoria as a member, the treasurer, and eventually the club President. Julia also enjoyed weaving and knitting and was an active member with the Victoria Weaver’s Guild. She loved to sew and many friends and family have received presents of place mats, pillow cases and baby blankets. She loved to bake: bread, pies, cakes and our favourite cookies. Julia worked as a volunteer for Thrifty’s Sendial program for years at the Saanichton location helping the community.

She was always welcoming and caring and enjoyed being with people and her family. She will be in our hearts forever.

Julia is survived by her sister Helen and her husband Fred Cunningham, son David, his wife Anita Baril, son Christopher, and his wife Rhonda Callender.

Julia has asked for donations in her memory to be made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 1830 Pastel Crescent.