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Helene “Elly” Pauls (nee. Redekopp), age 76, passed away April 14, 2021 from pancreatic cancer. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Ernest J. Pauls; children and grandchildren: Dana and Ben Stob, Jillian and Hayden, David and Patty Pauls, Chloe and Brooklyn, Dyan and Brett Allison, Emily; siblings: Alex and Marlene Redekopp, Laura Unger and Jim and Irene London.
Elly was born in Mettmann, Germany to the late Benjamin and Antonia (Kusmenko) Redekopp at the end of World War II. Elly spent her first five years as a refugee, during which her family sought shelter from bomb raids targeting nearby Dusseldorf and eventually making their home in a “lager” camp for displaced persons. They emigrated to Ontario, Canada in March 1949.
As refugees, they came to Canada with next to nothing. Elly had vivid memories of their first Christmas when the Salvation Army brought their family gifts of clothing, coats and her first doll. Her favorite memories of childhood included visits to Queenston’s Floral Clock, picnics on the Niagara River and entertaining relatives and friends in their home.
Elly graduated from Eden Christian College, Grantham High School (13th grade) and went on to attend Mennonite Brethren Bible College and later the University of Winnipeg where she went to teacher’s college. She married Ernie in August of 1968 and worked as an elementary teacher at John Prichard school while he completed his medical degree. After Dana was born, they moved to the small farming community of Morden, MB where Ernie established his first medical practice and Elly a home.
Their years in Morden were rich with deep friendships and church community life. Mirroring how she grew up, Elly settled into the role of gracious host, always ready and willing to open their home; throwing parties or large gatherings for any and all occasions. This hospitality mindset influenced her interest in interior design, prompting her to go back to school to earn her diploma in Interior Design from Red River Community College in 1978. It didn’t take long for her to become the most sought after interior design consultant in the Pembina Valley, eventually opening Fine Line Interiors, a store out of which she ran a thriving consultation business.
In 1990, Ernie and Elly moved their family to Abbotsford, BC so that Elly could continue to expand her business and they could be closer to extended family. This gave her the opportunity to design-build their third home and build her consultation business. Elly’s reputation in the lower mainland grew quickly, leading to many significant clients including Spa Utopia. Her success as a designer can be attributed to both her impeccable sense of style and her gift for listening well. She always made people feel heard and never judged.
In retirement, Elly’s focus turned to her role as Oma to her grandchildren. Despite geographical distance, she gave each one special love and attention. Every year, Elly and Ernie prioritized family trips all over the US and Mexico so they could enjoy their children and grandchildren together. Her favorite memories were the many summers spent in Suncadia, WA. Elly and Ernie also spent many years traveling the world together for weeks at a time, always by sea, and have set foot on every continent except Antarctica.
Elly will be forever remembered as an avid reader, communicator, entrepreneur, fashionista, hostess and loving wife, mother and grandmother.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation. To share a memory or photo, ellypaulsmemorial@gmail.com.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helene Elly Pauls Redekopp July 14 1944
April 14 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique