A car crash in South Africa has claimed the life of a beloved doctor in Maple Ridge.
Dr. Anna Pater died on March 26 while vacationing with her husband Piotr.
It was a long awaited trip, explained Piotr, noting they had been many times to the country.
“It was always a place we wanted to go,” he said.
Dr. Pater had worked with the Fraser Medical Clinic in Maple Ridge since 2008, and news of her death has hit her patients hard.
Joy Thompson said her mother is 99-years-old and called Dr. Anna Pater the best.
“She even called to check on my mom and I when my aunt passed away on Jan. 3 of this year at 97 years old,” said Thompson, who is worried her mother won’t be able to find another doctor as attentive and warmhearted as Dr. Pater was.
Online messages to the family told stories about a doctor who was caring and kind.
“I was utterly devastated to hear of the passing of such an incredible human,” wrote Breanne Davie on forevermissed.com, about Dr. Pater who had been her family’s doctor for more than 20 years.
She said Dr. Pater saw her family through the most difficult times with kindness and compassion, including the unexpected passing of her father.
“She was an advocate, a cheerleader and the best care giver,” Davie wrote.
“Some people come into your life and leave a lasting mark on your heart – Dr. Pater was one of those people,” wrote Rita Fidanza.
“She was not only an incredible doctor, but a truly compassionate and caring person. She had a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and safe,” Fidanza noted.
Tehmina Wasti said Anna was one of the nicest people, noting she was a sincere friend and colleague, always available to help anyone who needed her.
“All her patients loved her,” said Piotr, Anna’s husband of more than 30 years.
The Pater family, including her children Joanna, 27, and Pawel, 23, shared with The News Anna’s love of nature, skiing and being up in the mountains, gardening, and her passion for her job and her family.
They shared how Anna would rise early, when everyone else was sleeping, to feed the hummingbirds, and water her flower beds.
Joanna told a story about her 18th birthday, when her mother, after work, drove to Vancouver to get her a birthday present, before driving back to Ridge Meadows Hospital and checking herself in for, what Joanna found out later, were symptoms of appendicitis her mother had since the night before.
“Everybody, patients and the people in Maple Ridge, they knew her, but for us at home she was actually even much more than that,” said Piotr.
“Anna had this, kind of, natural warmth and she would give us support and she would listen to us, and she was my soul,” he added.
Joanna said her mother was always reassuring and would assure her everything would be OK on their regular walks together.
She is currently following in her mother’s footsteps and is in residency in Baltimore.
Joanna noted her mother taught her a lot about her passions, including cardiology.
“She really inspired us, you know, and her patients loved her.”
A Celebration of Life for Dr. Anna Pater will be taking place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 15, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 20285 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Maple Ridge.
Anyone who like to attend are asked to let the family know you will be attending at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-loving-memory-of-dr-anna-pater-tickets-1986557857027.
A GoFundMe for a memorial bench and tree in Dr. Pater’s honour has raised $26,125, of a $25,000 goal.
Donations will also be used to support the costs of her funeral and arrangements, and anything left over will be donated to the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation in her name.
To donate go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dr-anna-pater.