Pamela Denise Burt

Pam Burt, passed away peacefully with family and dear friends at her side, on Wednesday December 6, 2023. While she faced many health challenges over the years – her passing was sudden and unexpected.

Pam was born July 9, 1959, the only child of Alex and Grace Playsted. The family are long time residents of West Vancouver, where Pam grew up, went to school and lived most of her life. In 1988 she married the love of her life, Doug Burt, and they continued to live in West Van.

Pam shared her dad’s never-ending sense of humour and the Playsted ability to write poems – many of them very humorous, and all of them, very clever. She had an uncanny ability to find a bright spot or put a humorous spin on almost any situation. Like her dad, there was more often than not, a glint in her eye as you listened to her wry response to a situation.

In her younger years, Pam was often buzzing around West Van in her Volkswagen bug – ‘Goldie, and prior to that, ‘Black Beauty’ – an old Rambler station wagon. She found peace and joy walking the beaches at Dundarave, Ambleside and the trails at Lighthouse Park with her dogs Jasmine, and later Jadie, and often returned from these walks with heart-shaped rocks and shells in her pockets – heaven-sent messages from her late husband and dad. The collection grew to include small pieces of heart shape driftwood and she never missed an opportunity to stop and take a photo of a heart shaped cloud or leaf in the forest. They must have loved and missed her a lot since her heart collection was impressive.

Pam loved working for Pacific Western Airlines which later became Canadian Airlines International where she met many friends who shared her love of travel and sense of adventure. Hawaii was the favourite vacation spot though. She never forgot those beautiful beaches and was hopeful for another trip ‘soon’ but her health disrupted those plans. After leaving the airline, Pam worked for Canada Post at both Pharmasave and Shoppers Drug Mart in West Van.

Pam was pre-deceased by her dear dad Al, in 2009 and her beloved husband Doug in 2014. Left to cherish her memory and remember her beautiful smile, laughter and sense of humour are her mom, Grace, numerous cousins in BC, Alberta and the USA, many friends, including very dear friends – Laurie, Brenda, Trish, Juli and Martha.

The family wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the ICU staff at Lions Gate Hospital and to nurse Katie in particular, who skillfully cared for Pam, her family and friends with both compassion and respect.

Pam and Doug will be reunited when their ashes are scattered together on Maui at a later date. A celebration of Pam’s life will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 3 pm at The Wallace, located on the 3rd floor of The Shipyards in North Vancouver, 125 Victory Ship Way. (underground parking is available at The Shipyards). In keeping with Pam’s love of the water and all things Hawaiian, please wear your best beach attire as this celebration will have a Hawaiian theme to it. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider a donation to the Lions Gate Hospital foundation.

“If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it." ~Jimmy Buffet