AILSA ZAENKER (née LAWSON)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

AILSA ZAENKER
(née LAWSON)

Ailsa Zaenker (née Lawson) passed away peacefully in her 80th year on September 3, 2022.
A gifted pianist from a very young age, Ailsa enjoyed a long career as a performer, collaborator, and teacher. Her childhood in Winnipeg fostered her musical talents and ambitions. Ailsa debuted with the CBC Winnipeg Radio Orchestra at age 15, studied at the Banff Centre, and successfully competed in national and international music competitions. She graduated from the University of Winnipeg and won a scholarship to study piano in Freiburg, Germany. Her studies in Germany brought her accolades, adventure, and her husband Karl, with whom she raised three children. Ailsa settled in Vancouver in 1970, where she established herself as an active part of Vancouver's classical music community. She taught piano to hundreds of children and adults, and collaborated with and coached many emerging and established musicians.
Ailsa was Vancouver Opera's chorus rehearsal pianist for many years, including for their Opera in the Schools Touring Program in the 1980s. She led the choir at Dunbar Heights United Church and enjoyed time spent with the "Mighty DHUCs". In the last part of her career, she found musical and personal companionship as the accompanist for the choir EnChor.
Ailsa cared deeply about her country and humanity. She read newspapers cover to cover, and knew her history and literature. Ailsa was proper, clever, generous, and very funny. She revered her elders, took an interest in her young people, and always looked for that special part inside each person.
She is survived by her children, Peter Zaenker (Ludmilla Zaenker), Anita Zaenker, Christina Zaenker (Neil Burnett); her grandchildren, Charlie, Darcy, Sophia and Olivia; her former husband Karl Zaenker (Cecilia Martell); her sister Elinor Lawson of Lethbridge; and her niece Kim Goodman of Winnipeg. She is loved and remembered by her 26 cousins and their families, and countless friends, former students and musical collaborators, with whom she shared and made many memories.
Ailsa was predeceased by her parents, Dorothy and Arthur Lawson, and her sister Judith (Lawson) Goodman, all of Winnipeg.
Special thanks to the dedicated staff at Vancouver General Hospital and Holy Family Hospital who cared for her in her final weeks, and to the staff and community at Cavell Gardens.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 West 45th Ave., Vancouver on October 5 at 1:00 p.m.
Donations in Ailsa's memory can be made to First United Church, Vancouver.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 10, 2022