Mario Joseph Noel Pavan was born on December 25, 1946, in St. Paul’s hospital Vancouver, Canada, to two immigrant parents, Mario (Sr) and Angelina Pavan, who were from Treviso, Northern Italy. He was the youngest of three sons making him the baby of the family, forever being referred to as ‘Baby Mario’. Mario started his life in Vancouver on Kitchener Street, living there until he was 11 years old, and later moving to the Moscrop area on Spruce Street, from 1958 to 1972 for the rest of his childhood. Mario attended Begbie Elementary School, where after pestering the principal to be allowed to attend the year before, he realized Grade 1 was not what he enjoyed, and fled to his home every morning just to be dragged back by his mother! He moved to Cascade Heights Elementary school in grade 6, and then Moscrop Junior High School for grade 7, where he became a part of the Daffle Bunnies group with his best buddies, Ronnie, Donnie, Bill, and Dennis. Dennis being Jan’s older brother, Jan known as ‘little Craig’ at the time was neighbors with Mario since she was five. Mario later graduated from Burnaby Central.
Mario spent his early summers working at the PNE grilling onions and flipping burgers as his first job which allowed him to buy his purple barracuda in 1965. While Jan was walking to a friend’s house one afternoon, Mario spotted her, he pulled the car over, threw it in park, and grabbed Jan kissing her on the lips, and tell her he was going to marry her one day. Jan was only 12 years old at the time. He later followed in his father’s footsteps working as a tile setter where he started to learn about the trade’s world. Mario and Jan started dating in 1969 and got married in 1972 at St. Theresa’s in Burnaby, proving Mario’s early assumptions correct. Mario started his career as a commercial painter with Raybilt Construction, then started his own business with Pavan Brothers. The newlywed couple bought Jan’s parent’s house on Pine Street in 1973 and wasted no time having their first-born Chris in 1974. Mario decided to veer towards the direction of commercial painting, working for Velvet painting, which is what he was doing while Jan was in labor giving birth to Chris. Mario discovered a lot in Port Moody on Bignall Bay that both him and Jan fell in love with, soon after deciding to start building their dream home in 1975. There was never a spare moment for Mario, whether it was painting, building the family home, or doing small trade jobs to help save money, he was always kept busy. It only got busier once they moved into their new home in 1976 and Ryan was born in 1977, Kevin following quickly in 1978. Six years later their youngest Brent was born in 1984, being their last child to save Jan’s sanity. Mario and Jan met a great group of people while living in the neighborhood, who still to this day remain some of their closest friends. Mario thoroughly enjoyed hosting, and dressing up for a theme party, while later dosing off at an early hour, while Jan continued to entertain. Mario decided to be an overachiever, taking on another project of building a house in Westwood Plateau along Robson Street, where the family spent the rest of the kids’ young lives. This was also around the time when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his first major health problem. Mario’s final business venture was starting Westcan Painting in 1995 with his two partners Dennis and Doreen. Westcan over the years became a respectable and well-known commercial painting company. Mario worked hard at furthering his career while still trying to spend time with his family watching his boys play in various sports.
Mario and Jan started travelling around the world, one of their funniest memories being when Mario got on a Camel and wandered off into the desert from the group, after specifically being told not to! They experienced many happy moments, but it all came down to their favorite place which was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Mario enjoyed having family and friends come and visit while they stayed for months of the year in the sun. He never actually liked Mexican food, but he adored a good mariachi band that he could get up and dance to, dragging one of his family members along he would spin them around and show everyone why he was named twinkle toes.
After having four sons, they were happy to have their first granddaughter Tiana, who was born in 2002 followed closely by Mattea in 2005. In 2006, Mario decided he wanted to retire to the island. He talked Jan into going with him while he commuted back and forth to the mainland to continue working. Their family continued to grow, Laken being born in 2006, then Amelia, Isla, Livi, Natalie, Emily, and Nico. Mario, now named Nonno, loved creating memories with his grandchildren at family events, whether he was dressed up as Pirate, or a Crocodile, he was the star of the show. He enjoyed building houses and working so much that he was still making phone calls about his carriage home in Parksville from his hospital bed, as well as never retiring from work. Mario never stopped fighting his cancer and would’ve stayed with his family forever if he was allowed. The weeks leading up to his final moments were spent surrounded by his family so that he was able to peacefully pass in the early morning of August 2nd. Mario Joseph Noel Pavan will always be remembered for being a hard worker, loving husband, devoted father, and doting Nonno, who will forever be missed.
Thank you to the dedicated care team at St. Pauls Hospital, led by Dr. Shaipanich. Dr. Gill, Mario’s general practitioner. Dr. Chau, Mario’s Oncologist. Family and friends who visited Mario near the end, and everyone who had a positive impact on his life.
Prayers and visitation will be held at St. Claire of Assisi’ Church in Coquitlam at 6:30 pm on August 15th, 2022. The mass will also be held here the next day August 16th at 11am, followed by a reception at Vancouver Golf Club, welcoming anyone to share fond memories about Mario while enjoying food and refreshments.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to BC Cancer lung research.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mario Pavan Tuesday August 2nd 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Coquitlam, Province: Colombie britanique