Karen Pai

Karen Pai (Pai Ming) passed away peacefully on March 5, 2025, in Phuket, Thailand. She lived a vibrant 80 years, leaving a legacy of tenacity, creativity, and a passion for learning.

Born on February 1, 1945 in Chongqing, China, Karen’s family moved to Shanghai before returning to Hong Kong in 1948. Young Karen played piano, joined Girl Guides, and attended skipped Sunday school with her sister, Wendy, to explore Hong Kong and buy sweets with the collection money.

Her creativity, resourcefulness, and independent streak shone bright from an early age. She sewed dresses for herself and her sister, from patterns and her own designs and, at age 11, single-handedly prepared a full-course dinner for her family.

At age 19, Karen crossed the ocean to Canada in 1965, leaving all she knew to earn a B.A. at McMaster University continuing her parents’ legacy of higher education. After graduating and marrying in 1969, she became a Canadian citizen in 1972, and raised her two daughters in her adopted homeland.

Karen curated a rich and full life in Toronto. She had an unquenchable thirst for the arts in all forms and was a lover of poetry, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts. Her home-away-from home was the Art Gallery of Ontario, where she served as a dedicated volunteer for 35 years, first as a tour guide in The Grange (complete with pioneer outfit!) and then as a docent, engaging the public in thought-provoking tours through the AGO’s extensive collections.

She was not only a voracious patron of the arts but also a maker herself, pursuing needlepoint, knitting and sewing clothing for her and her family. Her eye for beautiful things also made her a natural fit as an instructor of interior design. She took great pride in her garden, nurturing and delighting in each plant, finding true pleasure in hosting friends and family in her personal Eden.

She embraced new experiences with enthusiasm, taking up tai chi and trying out new languages A fearless and adventurous spirit, Karen explored the world until the end, zip-lining through Costa Rican rainforests and embarking on a solo trip to Thailand.

Known for her intellect, quick wit, keen sense of style, and unending curiosity, her quest for knowledge had her attending university lectures well into her final years, filling notebooks with learnings and musings on subjects ranging from jazz to art history. Karen never shied away from sharing her opinions and observations. Not one for being coy, she could be relied on for her candour – you always knew where you stood with her. She leaves behind an equally colourful, eclectic circle of friends that spans generations and interests.

Karen was predeceased by her mother, Li Wan-Bik, and father, Pai Wan Yueh. She is survived by her sister Wendy, daughters Kama and Zara, and her beloved grandchildren Quentin, Alexandra, Zoë, Parker, and Wynn. It was her role as a grandmother that she cherished most of all.