Louisa Suk-Hing Lai Siu
elevated zDiQa
November 3, 1951 – July 7, 2023
elevated zDiQa Visitation
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 – 2:00pm-4:00pm & 6:00pm-8:00pm
elevated zDiQa Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated zDiQa Funeral Mass
Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 10:30am
Chapel of St. Joseph – Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
elevated zDiQa Click here to view the funeral mass
elevated zDiQa Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7
elevated zDiQa Obituary
A Hero Among Us
elevated zDiQa With bittersweetness, we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend Louisa Suk-Hing Lai Siu on Friday July 7, 2023 at the age of 71 at Brampton Civic Hospital following a ~9 months-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She leaves behind her husband Peter, her twin daughters Clarisse (Kayvon) and Stephanie, her siblings Lily, John (Angela), and Andrew (Doris), and her granddaughter Rose.
elevated zDiQa Louisa Suk-Hing Lai was born on November 3, 1951 in Hong Kong to the late Lai Siu Yang and Lee Yau Tim. She was the fourth of eight children.
elevated zDiQa A bright student with a naturally adventurous spirit, she left home at the age of 18 to study at the University of Kansas. Her sincere desire to help others led her to major in psychology. She continued her studies at the University of Western Ontario where she received a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology in 1977. She then returned to Hong Kong where she enjoyed a successful career as a clinical psychologist with Hong Kong Christian Services. One of her fondest accomplishments is piloting and establishing an early childhood development program that is still used throughout Hong Kong today.
elevated zDiQa In 1982, she returned to Canada and married Peter Siu. They eventually settled in Brampton, Ontario with their children. After a brief stint as a co-owner of a Second Cup franchise in downtown Toronto, Louisa returned to her professional vocation as a clinical psychotherapist.
elevated zDiQa As a woman of faith, Louisa began to recognize that many of the emotional problems ailing her patients had deep spiritual roots. She also felt there were inherent conflicts between the economic model vs. the ethical duties of her profession. Therapists typically charge by the hour and therefore have a monetary incentive to drag out treatment. For the patient, putting a dollar value on the treatment often has the subconscious effect of perverting its value, thereby leading to poor outcomes for the patient.
elevated zDiQa In 2009, Louisa made the decision to retire from private practice and switch to pro bono work. The switch was liberating – most especially as it freed her to incorporate her Catholic faith into her counseling. With little thought for her own needs, she would often spend hours in coffee shops or on the phone with her patients, listening with child-like patience while never afraid to offer tough love where needed. The Truth will set you free (John 8:32), she always maintained – and Truth meant bringing the love of Jesus Christ to all she encountered.
elevated zDiQa The profound impact Louisa had on her patients’ lives was largely hidden from outside view, due to therapist-patient confidentiality. The day after her passing, her family discovered an article penned in 2020 on this very topic titled “A Hero Among Us”: https://thescribbler.ca/2020/04/20/a-hero-among-us/. In many ways, this article serves as a more fitting obituary than the present piece you are reading.
elevated zDiQa Louisa was rarely outdone in generosity. She sincerely cared for the well-being of her family, friends, and all around her. There was no one left untouched by her big heart and her child-like spirit. She loved deeply, she loved well, and she will be greatly missed.
elevated zDiQa Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace, Louisa.
Amen.
elevated zDiQa In lieu of flowers, please consider offering a Mass for the repose of the soul of Louisa Siu.
elevated zDiQa
RIP Dear Louise, no more pain “ God always Beed Angels”
My deepest condolences 💯🙏🙏🙏
Dear Louisa’s Family:
Our sincerest sympathy on the loss of your Beloved Louisa. We were one of the multitude of beneficiaries of attentive kindness and loving friendship.
May the peace, love& joy of Christ be with you especially at this time of mourning.
Brian & Flordeliza
Moccia
My deepest sympathy for the great loss of Louisa. May Eternal rest grant upon Louisa and let perpetual light shines upon her. May she rest in peace.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of Louisa. She was always so joyful, kind and full of life. I had the privilege of knowing her at Merciful Redeemer. She always approached me with an open heart and gentleness. Her big smile lit up the room.
I will miss that smile.
Rest in peace Louisa.
Hi Peter and family,
I am deeply sorry for your loss. Louisa was an incredible friend. She was a blessing to many around her.
Pray that God’s perpetual light shine upon her and she’s in God’s sweet embrace!
May God comfort you and your family in this difficult time!
My deepest condolences to the family. May the Lord Jesus grant Louisa eternal life and her soul rest in peace in heaven.🙏🙏🙏
In this very unhappy moment, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and warmest friendship to Peter and his family, and will definitely remember Louisa in my prayers.
Rest in Peace Louisa,
To Louisa Family,
Sorry for your lost, Louisa will be dearly and loved forever in our hearts. We pray for her journey after earth to be with God, angels, saints and disciples. So many memories and journey learned from each other. Rest in Peace Louisa. I will still pray for you and love you always. To the family we are with you and grieve with your lost.
Your truly,
Michelle, Claire and Tyran
My sincere condolences to the family. I remember Louisa as a wonderful and caring person. May her soul Rest in Peace.
Patricia Pereira
What’s lost on earth, Heaven gained. Thank God for bringing such a special soul into my life in the last four years. Rest In Peace, my dearest friend and Spiritual mentor. You’ll be greatly missed.
My sincere condolences on the passing of Louisa from this earthly life to her eternal one. I had the honour of meeting her several times in RC circles. She is truly a Saint of our Church. Rest in peace beloved daughter of Christ.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to you and your entire family for the loss of your beloved Louisa.
Louisa was an inspiration as she battled her illness with such faith and joy. The earth has lost a great prayer warrior but I’m certain she will be interceding for all of us here below.
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you navigate the days ahead. May God bless you and your family with strength, courage, and peace.
Eternal rest grant unto Louisa, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
With sympathy. 🙏🏻🕯✝️
My heartfelt condolences go out to you during this trying time.
May the Lord’s grace be with you now and always.
I met Louisa on a “Pilgrimage to Catholic Shrines in France” in May, 2014. That same year she provided free talk therapy to my son and greatly helped him manage his depression.
I loved her inspirational and spititual Christmas letters ever since.
May her soul rest in peace
Our sincere condolences to Peter and family. The last communication I received from Louisa was her Christmas Letter of December 2022. Such an spiritual and inspirational message only Louisa in her suffering united with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and with St. Joseph can pen down. Louisa regularly attends the First Friday/First Saturday vigil at St. Anthony. As one of our readers, you will be deeply missed. Pray for us as you join join Jesus, Mary and Joseph in eternal joy.
My sincere condolences to you Peter, Stephanie, Clarisse and the entire family. May she rest in peace.
On behalf of our parish of Star of the Sea in San Francisco, we join our hearts to yours in prayer and comfort during this difficult time.
Rest in HIS Peace Louisa!
Praying for us, still journeying this ‘valley of tears’!
Sincere sympathy and prayers for comfort, strength and Consolation for the family of Louisa Siu🙏
What a beautiful soul you are, Louisa. Serra Club of North Peel has been privileged to be part of your spiritual family. May God grant you a deserved eternal rest. Amen
My deepest sympathies and condolences
Louisa was always a beautiful example of a faith filled woman and exuded such joy ,even in her sufferings as she battled cancer.
She is sure to hear the words of our Lord
“Well done good and faithful servant”
Will miss her smiling face
How remarkable, touching and indeed moving is the story of her dear life, her selfless concern for patients and her generous gift of herself to all of us! She has gifted herself to us, too, in her daughters who were the pillars and the vital flame of the Student Catholic Association at Harvard Business School as its co-presidents. Their generous hearts obviously reflected those of their dear parents! We will always pray for her here at St Pauls in Harvard Square and at the Harvard Catholic Center in Cambridge. I will shortly be offering both the morning and moon Masses for her and her supremely kind family. May The Good Lord Welcome Her Home to Heaven as the Angels and All the Saints Rejoice!
Dear Peter and family,
It was wonderful getting to know you and Louisa during your time at St. Denis and her prayer participation in our weekly Cenacle group praying for Priests and vocations.
May God grant you His peace and comfort during this time of great loss.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon Louisa. May she rest in peace. Amen
Dear Peter Clarisse Stephanie and family,
My sincere condolences on the passing of Louisa. I was just informed of her death, and had already prayed for her in my morning prayers for the sick. My afternoon prayers for her from today will be for the deceased. Louisa was a very devout Catholic attending various Parishes including St Ann, St Anthony, St Marguerite d’youville at which I met and became friendly with her, also Bible Study. She went to the Holy Love Shrine in Ohio years ago with a group of us from SMD.
I will always remember her smiling face as in this obituary picture.
On occasion Peter, you and Louisa would donate to our Mission Servants to the Homeless and Less Fortunate group which the HaLF greatly appreciated.
Take comfort in knowing she now rests in the bosom of our Lord. Eternal rest grant unto Louisa O Lord Let perpetual light shine upon her, may her soul rest in Peace. Amen
My prayers are with you all in this time of grief and mourning.
Blessings and Peace+.
Heather Heath-Abraham
Louisa, may your soul rest in peace in the loving arms of our Saviour and may your family be consoled by the thought and assurance that you have lived a life worthy of eternal salvation.
Peter, my deepest sympathy and condolences to you, your family, and friends.
Sincere condolences 🙏
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
相知相識五十載，
拼搏人生沒有改，
如今重回主懷抱，
大愛遺留在人間。
Dear Peter and Girls
Please accept my deepest sympathies on your profound loss
Dear Clarisse and Stephanie, my heart swells with grief for you and I am praying for you and your father and family and especially your mother’s soul. Please know that I planned to have 30 consecutive days of Gregorian Masses said for your mother- who, although I only briefly met, exuded so much warmth and love.
Hi Peter & family, our deepest sympathies & condolences on your loss.
Louisa , May you rest in peace.
Dear Peter, Clarisse & Stephanie,
Our heartfelt condolences to you on the passing of Louisa. Louisa was a wonderful friend and sister-in-Christ who was always joyful and willing to help.
We will miss her.
Eternal rest grant unto Louisa O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace. Amen.
Our sincerest condolences to the family. She will be greatly missed by many. A sweet lady.
Dear Siu family – My heartfelt condolences go out to you. Especially to my good friends Clarisse and Stephanie on what is a heartbreaking loss. Your mother was obviously an incredible influence on you two, who I have to honor to call my friends.
Dear Peter, Clarisse Stephanie and family,
Our deepest condolences on the passing of Louisa. She was a good person with a big heart, always care about others.
I spoke to her a few times since she was diagnosed of pancreatic cancer. Each time when I asked how she is doing, she will say that I have to tell her about my wife’s health first.
We are sorry to lose a good friend.
In the realm where angels tread,
A soul now rests, our dear Louisa, who’s fled.
With heavy hearts and tears we weep,
Our love and condolences forever keep.
Louisa, your presence was a gift divine,
Guiding us with love, like a heavenly sign.
In faith, you showed us the path to trod,
A beacon of light, leading us to God.
Your smile, a ray of sunshine bright,
Your spirit, uplifting, in darkest night.
Your heart, warm and tender, filled with care,
A treasure forever, beyond compare.
Though you’re gone, your love remains,
In our hearts, forever it sustains.
We’ll cherish memories, like precious gold,
Your legacy of love, forever enfold.
Rest now, dear Louisa, in eternal peace,
May heavenly joys forever increase.
Our love and condolences we send,
Until we meet again, dear friend.
With love and heartfelt condolences,
Agnes and Clare
Dear Peter, Stephanie , Clarisse and Kayvon, & extended family . I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Louisa . Her child- like spirit, love and strong faith definitely shone when I was blessed to be part of Ivan’s Pilgrimmage with Louisa and you Peter. We stayed in touch , often texting until she stopped using what’s app. Louisa was always so inspiring and I enjoyed all our conversations immensely… May her child- like spirit and love flourish in you Peter , Clarisse, Stephanie , Kayvon, extended family and friends. May Louisa rest in peace (free from all pain) in the loving arms of our Father. I can imagine Louisa rejoicing with shouts of joy as she has entered the house of Our Lord(Ps 27), God Bless you all and may He continue to give you strength throughout the coming days and years . I will be with you all in spirit and love this Thursday watching the funeral on line as I have a specialist appt in the morning and unable to attend Louisa’s funeral … with deepest sympathy and love , Laura Reilly
My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy for the loss of Louisa.
I will always remember Louisa for her kindness, passion and wisdom. I feel privileged to have known her and will always remember how she supported our services and colleagues. Being our consultant for over 20 years, she was so helpful and generous to share her value, expertise and knowledge. She also cared and concerned on colleagues’ wellness. Whenever she returned Hong Kong in the past, she would lead retreat programs for us which were fruitful and inspiring. We will never forget her smile and beautiful face!
Louisa is resting in God’s arm with eternal peace.
May God grant His love and comfort to Louisa’s family.
With love in Christ
Cross Leung
Deputy Director
Hong Kong Christian Service
Dear Peter, Clarisse and Stephanie,
Please accept our most heartfelt condolences for your loss. Our thoughts are with you during this very difficult time.
Regardless of age or stage of life, it’s never easy when you lose a parent. You were blessed to have such a wonderful Mother. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, lean on your family and friends for strength, and may the peace that comes from the memories of joy and love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead.
Louisa was an outstanding mother and very strong lady with loads of faith. Naturally, she was totally devoted to family. She was an incredible friend, always so happy, and full of life, so many memories at UTS, and thereafter, my best friend forever. I miss you dearly Louisa
There is an old African saying that when someone of Louisa’s stature passes it is like a library burning to the ground.
Louisa
I am so very happy to have known you in the 1970s in Hong Kong when psychologists worked hard to promote the new service to the HK community. I will always remember you as a cheerful and dedicated professional and a beautiful soul. May you rest in peace.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Louisa’s family on the loss of Louisa. She was such a warm and caring person who had a loving compassionate heart. May she rest in our Father’s loving arms. Let perpetual light shine upon her and may her soul Rest In Peace. Keeping you in my prayers. 🙏🙏
Dear Peter, Stephanie, and Clarisse, and entire family.
Knowing your family has been one of my rich blessing during my 51 years of priesthood.
My Sympathies and Condolences go with you, as I recall the words of the Midrash on Abraham’ death: “Have you ever seen a friend that does not want that his friend be with him?”. Louisa, your Dear Wife and Mother being for sure a friend of God, He wanted her to be with Him in Eternal Peace.
God bless you all.
Dear Siu Family,
My sincere condolences to your family. The gates of Heaven welcomed another Angel.
I am
Praying for your dear Mother now and all day!
Please know of my prayers for all of you as well!
I am remembering her and you here at Mass which was long her church as well.
“May Flights of Angels Sing Her to Her Rest!”
To Peter Siu and family, our very deepest condolences to you all in the loss of a beloved wife, mom and grandmother. Louisa entered our lives, my sister Jane and I at St. Anne’s Parish only in the last two years. However, she became a dear friend to us and her lovely smile and kind, caring heart will never be forgotten and it was a privilege to have known her. Her strong faith was an inspiration to us as I go through a similar journey. We prayed for each other daily. To Stephanie and Clarisse – your mom is always with you. She is the place you come from, your first home, your first love, your first friend, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space – not even death. God bless and sustain all of you with strength and courage as you lean on your faith, as Louisa did, in the coming months and beyond. She is only gone temporarily from your sight, but there are others who are watching her coming and shout with gladness “here she comes”.
May the light of God continues to shine on your soul. Farewell!
One of Gods disciples.. she and your family are in my prayers!
Louisa has an intimate relationship with Our Lord Jesus and Mother Mary since her youth. This close relationship has sustained her throughout her life. She trustingly answered Jesus’s invitation to come to Him whenever she’s wearied and heavy ladened, letting Him put His gentle yoke on her. With peace and joy, she let herself yoked alongside Him for guidance and strength. She’s an inspiration of faithful discipleship. Thank you, Louisa for the privilege of your friendship and your witnessing of the faith Christ has called for!
You inspired so many of us with your love and faith to our Lord. May you rest in peace.
My prayers and condolences to Peter and your family. May all the loving memories bring you comfort and strength.