Rachel (Rae) Coulpier was born in Fisher Branch, Manitoba, on August 18, 1914 and passed away peacefully in North Vancouver Hospice on July 27, 2011 just short of her 97th birthday.

She was the loved mother of Rene and Jeannette Coulpier, daughter-in-law Margaret Coulpier and son-in-law Jim Yates. She was cherished by her grandchildren Liane Vail, Kristi Mitchell, Tiffany Yates, Owen Yates and his wife Jennifer, and her five great grandchildren, and Polly and Angelo Saganis.

Rachel lived her final years near family in North Vancouver but her heart never left Kamloops, her friends and students she so loved. As a retired principal of Brocklehurst Elementary School she kept in touch with staff and students all over the world. Rae took great pride in being possibly the first woman to receive a principalship in British Columbia. Through school programs Rae had adopted families from many countries and enjoyed visiting them as their Canadian grandmother.

Rae's passion for life and learning took her from a small farming town in Manitoba (where her nickname was "Motorcycle"), to Chicago then Winnipeg, where she graduated from Normal School as a teacher. She married John Coulpier when he immigrated from Paris and worked on her father's farm. The Coulpiers lived in Churchill, Man., Fort St. John, B.C., and Falkland before moving to Kamloops in 1956 to be principal of Brocklehurst Elementary School. By the time she retired in 1976 the two-room school had expanded to two schools and several hundred students. "Ma Coop," as she was affectionately known, made a large contribution to education in the rapidly expanding Kamloops suburb.

Rae also fostered several mentally challenged children in her home, started a teen town for youth, assisted in taking education to the far north of Canada and opened a restaurant. Her zest for adventure saw her visit every continent, go motorcycle touring in Australia, cattle driving in Westwold, take safaris in Africa, attend a rock concert at the top of Whistler Mountain, R.V. traveling across Canada and much more.

At her request there will be no funeral service or donations, but her ashes are to be spread in the Thompson River.

Rae's spirit, kindness and generosity
touched many lives around the world.
We are changed now...
Not because she left us
But because she touched us.
She will remain in our hearts forever.