Willa Titus

It is with great sadness that Shelley, Julie and Carolyn share the passing of our mom, Willa Titus, on August 26th, 2025, two months shy of her 99th birthday; a life well-lived. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother-in-law who was always there for anyone who needed her or her hugs.

Mom was born in Vancouver in 1926, then moved to Brandon, Manitoba, at age two, with her parents and older brother after her dad was transferred there by the CN Railway. She often spoke of her childhood on the Prairies as idyllic, in a loving household. When she was 20 years old, she returned to Vancouver and began her career as a Laboratory Technologist at Vancouver General Hospital, where she made lifelong friends. An avid curler in Brandon, she continued with her VGH colleagues at the Vancouver Curling Club Business Women’s League, and throughout her life cheered on her “boys” from Manitoba.

Mom met our dad Bruce in Vancouver through his sister and their parents. They were married for over fifty years, living in their Dunbar house in Vancouver for all of that time (mom for 64 years).

For mom, the trip of a lifetime was to England in 1953 to see the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. She loved to travel, and in later years she and dad visited places like Puerto Rico, the U.K., Sweden, Finland, Spain, Morocco and Italy (they even met Pope John Paul II!). Wherever she went in the world, she made friends and kept them for life.

A Guider for over 30 years, mom was known as Snowy Owl. She and the other Brownie leaders created themed camps at Camp Olave on the Sunshine Coast that were legendary. She wasn’t a fancy cook, but everyone loved her cheesecake and her simple spaghetti casserole recipe that she renamed “Brownie Casserole,” a surefire hit from the Camp Olave days.

Gardening was her pride and joy. Every spring, she would load up her car with annuals from the local nursery and transform her front and back yards with colourful blooms. The back deck, where she spent so much of her time, was always welcoming, with beautiful flowering hanging baskets and railing boxes.

Mom was a lifelong knitter, learning at age 7. She knit well over 56 Christmas stockings and many intricate baby shawls for family and friends over the years; they were a true labour of love. Countless Barbie and baby doll outfits were knit for her girls, and later in life she knit more than a hundred baby hats, which UBC student midwives took to Uganda each year to place on tiny newborn heads.

She was a supporter of the SPCA and loved all animals, but had a special soft spot for cats, with a total of 9 furry friends living with her over her lifetime.

Mom and dad hosted 107 UBC English Language Institute students at the house over a period of 16 years. They came from all over the world and the girls became part of the family for the time they stayed. It was always a full house, full of conversation around the dinner table, laughter and learning. To many, mom became their beloved Canadian grandmother, and many have kept in touch to this day.

Mom lived a long life—generous with her time and love.

The end of an era...she will be greatly missed.

If you would like to continue in her generous spirit, mom would welcome your support for VOKRA, the BC SPCA or Covenant House Vancouver.