November 16, 1964 - April 9, 2023
Shen Pinsonnault, (nee Shen Chia, nee Jia Xin) passed away Easter morning after a long courageous battle to cure her bone marrow disorder.
She was well known by the Sechelt community working as a cashier at the pharmacy in the Sechelt mall for many years. She enjoyed her job; was proud of the healthy foods section she helped create and loved getting to know her customers.
Shen was born in Liaoning province in China. As a young girl she was sent to train as a dancer and singer performing around her district. Through her parents she cultivated a lifelong love of Chinese opera.
At the age of seventeen with the help of her aunt and uncle in Canada she journeyed by herself to North America. She spent time working for her uncle in Texas and another uncle in New York City before finally settling in Victoria, B.C. .
She attended Vic. High and then studied Art History at the University of Victoria majoring in Middle Eastern and Russian Art. Upon graduating she worked at a number of galleries most notably the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Stephen Lowe gallery in Victoria under the tutelage of Inuit Art and ceramics expert Alistair Macduff.
Shen and her husband moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2000 and knew they had landed in paradise. She loved her vegetable garden, foraging for wild mushrooms, hiking through the Coasts numerous parks and watching her two sons play soccer.
Shen had a great passion for reading, music and opera. She was fascinated by Middle Eastern history and art and the current state of geopolitics world wide. In short, Shen was a true scholar.
She will be deeply missed by her husband Paul, her two sons Leo and Angelo, her family and many friends.
There will be a private ceremony for family members in Langley and a celebration of life gathering for those who wish to attend at some point; to be announced this coming summer.
