Paulette Lauren Peirol, of Owen Sound, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family at Chapman House on Monday, February 5th, 2024, at the age of 60. Paulette was born in Toronto on October 15th, 1963.
Loving and devoted mother to Luke (Nicole), Lia, and Erin. Beloved partner of Steve Furness of Owen Sound. Dear sister of Nicholas Peirol. Loving aunt of Jack, Lauren, and Will.
Predeceased by her parents, Fred and Lita Peirol.
Paulette lived an exceptional life. Adopted by her parents on January 27th, 1965, she grew up in Toronto and pursued her passion for dance and later writing, becoming a journalist and Editor of York University’s student newspaper, Excalibur, in her early twenties. While working at the Kingston Whig Standard, Paulette forged lifelong friendships and won a national newspaper award for investigative journalism with Michael Den Tandt, who later became her husband and father of their three children. Michael and Paulette’s newsroom debates were legendary, as was their six-month trek across Southeast Asia, for which they were completely unprepared. They survived, got married in Kingston in 1995, and had Luke, Lia and Erin while living in Toronto and working at the Globe and Mail. After living briefly in Chelsea, Quebec, and working as an editor at the Ottawa Citizen Paulette moved to Owen Sound, Ontario. After a stint as a freelance writer and editor for the CBC, Paulette held the position of Tourism Marketing Coordinator for the city of Owen Sound for more than ten years, before she was appointed Economic Development Coordinator in Walkerton. She loved her community and had recently joined the Grey Bruce Trail Association, the Gardening Club, and Community Foundation Grey Bruce’s Community Development Committee.
In recent years, Paulette has been the beloved partner of Steve Furness. She loved Steve’s optimism, devotion, energy and endless affection. She will be deeply missed by Steve and his entire family.
Paulette adored nature, music, cooking and good food. On sunny winter days she would be out hiking the Inglis Falls trail with her kids, and on warm summer nights she could be found working in her garden. A highlight of her year was visiting the cottage in Muskoka, where she would see her brother Nick (Melissa), niece Lauren, nephews Jack and Will, uncles Leonard and Frank, and many other loved ones. Paulette had rediscovered her childhood love of sailing and enjoyed spending time out on Georgian Bay with Steve on the Scallywag. Many new friends were made at the GYC sailing club. There was no real debate on who was the captain and true sailor. Steve and Paulette also had some amazing camping trips to Killarny and Algonquin over the last few years. Her spirit will be with Steve forever.
Most of all, Paulette loved her friends and family. She had the rare gift of being a great conversationalist but also a great listener, and she was always there for others, showing them compassion and understanding. She will be forever missed by her three children. As they write this, they can imagine her editor’s voice telling them they’d overused a certain word or included too many run-on sentences. They love her to the moon and back. Paulette’s family would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Hodgson, Dr. Barfoot and Dr. Besik, as well as the wonderful nurses, staff and volunteers at Chapman House.
A memorial service to celebrate Paulette’s life will be held at Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, 250 14th St. W., Owen Sound, 519-376-7492, on Saturday, February 17th, 2024 at 2:00 pm, with visitation one hour prior, followed by reception at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Chapman House are appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to Paulette’s family by visiting her memorial at www.woodfuneralhome.
