It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Shunmoogam “Willie” Wolaganathan Pillay on 10 November 2025, at the age of 84. Willie was a devoted father, physician, and community leader, and his life was a testament to resilience and unwavering commitment to others.

Willie was predeceased by his parents, Meenachee and Kisten Shunmoogam Pillay, and two brothers, Krish and Parmas Pillay. He is survived by another brother, Praga Pillay; his sisters, Uga Nichols (Pillay) and Nat Moodley; his children, Simon, Mark, and Soraya Pillay; his grandchildren, Stephen and Katherine Pillay; and many nephews and nieces living abroad.

Born in Durban, South Africa, on 17 August 1941, Willie came from a prominent family in Greenwood Park, a close-knit Indian–South African community. His early years were marked by both privilege and hardship. After losing his parents at a young age, he stepped into a leadership role early in life, a responsibility that shaped his character and became a defining thread throughout his life.

Willie was deeply engaged in the struggle against apartheid. His activism was not a passing phase but a lifelong conviction. The government’s crackdown on student leaders forced Willie to leave his homeland and seek a future abroad. He chose Ireland, a country whose own history of struggle resonated deeply with him.

In Dublin, Willie pursued medical training at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. He embraced Irish culture wholeheartedly, to the extent that friends often joked he knew more about Ireland than many native Irish people. His years there were marked by rigorous study, enduring friendships, and a zest for life. In 1969, he met Margaret, who would become his wife.

In 1972, Willie and Margaret immigrated to Canada, where Willie specialized in internal medicine. They married in 1975 and began building a family, welcoming their first child, Simon, in 1976. They eventually put down roots in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where their family grew with the births of Mark and Soraya.

For more than 2 decades, Willie served as a respected physician and community leader in Moose Jaw. He built a thriving medical practice, earned admiration as a cardiologist, and held key positions, including chief of staff and medical director. Willie chaired the Canada Day Committee; championed civic initiatives; and opened his home for gatherings that brought together neighbors, colleagues, and the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Sisters of Providence, a Catholic congregation, had a long-standing mission to serve society’s most vulnerable. Willie found in them kindred spirits and became one of their most trusted partners.

Willie’s passion for eldercare became a defining chapter of his career. In the early 1980s, he proposed replacing an outdated hospital with a modern, integrated approach. At age 50, Willie returned to school to specialize in geriatrics, a testament to his determination. For 15 years, he worked tirelessly alongside the Sisters of Providence and government partners to bring this dream to life. In 1995, their shared vision was realized with the opening of Providence Place for Holistic Health, a state-of-the-art facility that transformed eldercare in the region.

In 1996, Willie relocated to Surrey, where he continued his work as a geriatrician in private practice and the first staff geriatrician at Surrey Memorial Hospital. His expertise was widely recognized. He served as president of medical staff, chief of geriatrics, and a key interest holder and expert panel member for the Fraser Health Authority’s Code Plus initiative, which focused on elder-friendly hospital design and improved geriatric care. Willie continued practising medicine until 2016, reluctantly stepping back when illness made it impossible to continue.

From 2017 onward, Willie himself lived in care homes, facing complex medical challenges with courage. His instinct to nurture and guide never faded but rather was taken by illness, despite a relentless battle against this inevitability.

A funeral service celebrating Dr Pillay’s life was held on 29 November 2025 at Victory Memorial Park & Funeral Centre in Surrey. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to CanAge [11], Canada’s leading independent advocacy organization dedicated to raising standards in eldercare, preventing abuse and neglect, and ensuring dignity for seniors in long-term care and beyond.
—Krishnan Simon Pillay
Ottawa

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