Obituary of Paula Marlaine Rabbior

Paula Marlaine Rabbior (nee Blank), 71, who was born February 25 1954 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was raised from age of 2 in Nelson, British Columbia, has passed quietly at home on April 28, 2025 in Annapolis Royal as she had requested. Annapolis Royal was Paula’s home for the past 5 years. She loved the community and surroundings and was an avid hiker/walker her entire adult life.

Paula is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, John (Jack) Rabbior of Annapolis Royal

Her father Martin Blank of Nelson BC, Sister Jodie Blank of Mission BC, Brother, Eric Blank of North Vancouver BC and Sister in Law, Sonja Blank (nee Haenni) and Brother in Law, Trevor Watson.

Paula was a graduate of Home Economics at the University of British Columbia and had a lifelong passion for food, kitchen design and all things home related. Her first professional job after graduating UBC was developing salmon recipes for the BC Fisheries Association. Her recipes were distributed in publications across Canada.  She designed kitchens professionally in Toronto, Ontario and Hamilton Bermuda for many years.

For the past 25 years Paula created superb, original stained glass designs at first for friends and family and for the last 15 years, retail clients in Nova Scotia. In Nova Scotia she was constantly inspired by the wealth of heritage homes that created a perfect venue for both classic and sea inspired designs she loved to create.

Paula loved travel and relished multiple personal trips to Italy, France and Britain to soak up the sights, sounds and particularly the tastes of European culture.

Paula was grateful for the care provided by her physicians, oncologists, Palliative Care Team (Headed by Karen Ashcroft), and VON Personnel who made her long battle with cancer more manageable. In particular her Annapolis Royal friends and family and friends elsewhere across Canada, made her final months at home comfortable and warm with support and love. She wanted to particularly credit her personal care giver Kathy Stares, without whom these last 5 months would have been far more difficult if not impossible.

Paula’s request for a memorial was a bronze plaque, mounted on a seaside bench, on the Annapolis Royal waterfront she so loved where she can rest. This plaque is now in place with the kind cooperation of the Town of Annapolis Royal. At Paula’s request there will be no memorial service so any donations in her memory she would want to go to The Canadian Cancer Society.