In Memory of Mary Louise Crichton

Supporting Children Living with Somatization: Mind and Body Together

Mary Louise Crichton lived a life defined by adventure, love, curiosity, and profound compassion. Though her passing came far to soon, her generous spirit continues to shine through the Mary Louise Crichton Legacy Fund, created to support the area of care at BC Children’s Hospital that was closest to her heart.

For four years, Mary volunteered in the Research Department at BC Children’s Hospital, supporting studies related to Somatization – a condition where the body responds to stress with persistent and debilitating physical symptoms.  While extremely common, affecting 1 in 5 pediatric medical visits, somatization remains one of the most misunderstood areas of child health. For over 15 years, the Somatization team has worked to change that. Guided by the principle of Mind and Body Together, they integrate clinical care, research, and education to help children and their families understand what’s happening in their bodies and build lasting paths to recovery.

Mary’s natural empathy, combined with her passion for science and biology, made her an invaluable contributor to this important work. Every hour she gave was thoughtful, intentional, and grounded in her desire to help children receive the best care possible.

Through this Legacy Fund, Mary’s commitment to improving the care and understanding of Somatization continues - advancing research, supporting families, and expanding care for children who need it most.

Mary’s family and friends are honoured to carry forward her passion in a way that reflects her kindness, generosity, and big-hearted love for life.

Mary Louise Crichton – Lived Each Moment to the Fullest

Mary Louise Crichton lived a remarkable life. Born on November 29, 2002, in Vancouver BC, Mary grew up in Kitsilano with her twin brother and best friend, Robert, and her loving parents, Todd and Carol.

From an early age, Mary embraced life with excitement, curiosity, and joy, eager to explore the world with her family and friends.  Her adventures took her  exploring neighbourhood parks, beaches, and tidal pools; swimming in the ocean year-round and earning her scuba diving certification at age 14; hiking coastal trails and completing the West Coast Trail at age 15; camping; skiing the local mountains and Whistler; bungee-jumping; and taking countless road trips - first with her family, and later with her best friends. She filled each adventure with laughter and joy, creating lasting memories for herself and everyone lucky enough to be by her side.

Academically, Mary thrived. At General Gordon Elementary, even at a very young age, she demonstrated her natural leadership by confidently emceeing school concerts with her best friend, Morgan.  At Kitsilano Secondary she graduated in 2020 with top honors and earned the Gold Crest Principal’s List and two provincial scholarships - the BC Achievement Scholarship and the District/Authority Scholarship. She proudly entered the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia, pursuing a degree in Biology - reflecting her lifelong passion for sciences and genetics.

Mary was also a gifted athlete.  After her early years in gymnastics, she found her true passion in soccer, playing from grade 4 through 12 with VanU Soccer and the Kitsilano Secondary School team. Her long gazelle-like stride and incredible speed made her a force on the field that teammates and spectators loved to watch.

A natural leader, Mary balanced her full life with grace and purpose. She worked weekends at Urban Puppy, volunteered at BC Children’s Hospital, and maintained exceptional grades – all while giving her time generously to family and friends. Her brilliant mind was matched only by her enormous heart.

Mary’s adventurous spirit extended beyond Vancouver.  By the age of 20, she had already explored Hawaii, Mexico, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Florida, France, Spain, Italy, England, Trinidad, Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Bali and Thailand.  Wherever she went, she built friendships across continents and relationships filled with laughter, shared stories, and unforgettable memories.

In August 2022, Mary combined her academic passion with her love for travel by enrolling in a semester at the University of Sydney. This incredible life opportunity allowed her to immerse herself in a new culture, form lifelong friendships, and study Australia’s native wildlife at the Taronga Zoo. Though she cherished her time abroad, the experience reaffirmed her desire to build her adult life close to her beloved family and friends in Vancouver.

After her semester in Sydney, Mary set off to explore Thailand before meeting her family in Bali for Christmas - a final adventure completely aligned with her independent, adventurous spirit. Tragically, on December 14, 2022, Mary passed away far too soon in a motor vehicle accident in Phuket, Thailand.

Mary is remembered for her kindness, compassion, radiant spirit, boundless joy, and her infectious laugh that could be heard from blocks away. She cared deeply for her family (Todd, Carol, Robert, and her extended relatives), her best friends (Morgan, Anzara, Hannah, and Angie), her beloved family dog Rafiki (who has now joined her in Heaven), and for the world around her. Mary inspired those she loved, lifted them during difficult moments, and helped them believe in themselves. She expressed her love openly and generously, never holding back, and for that, we are endlessly grateful. These exceptional qualities will remain with us always and will never be forgotten.

The loss of this beautiful young woman has left her parents, twin brother, extended family, best friends and many other cherished friends devastated beyond words.  We will miss her every day for the rest of our lives, yet feel profoundly grateful to have loved, and been loved by someone as full of life as Mary Louise Crichton.

Mary Your Spirit, Joy and Love Will Live Forever. Love You Bear

Continuing Mary’s Light

Mary’s life was filled with brilliance, adventure and love. Though her time with us was heartbreakingly brief, her legacy continues in every child helped, every family supported, and every act of kindness inspired by her story.

Thank you for considering a gift to the Mary Louise Crichton Legacy Fund. Every contribution, no matter the amount, makes a tangible difference and is 100% directed to Somatization Research.

Thank you for helping Mary ‘s light continue to shine.