James Pearen

James Lee Pearen of Red Deer, Alberta, passed away on September 10, 2026, at the age of 45, following a long battle with Crohn’s disease. He passed peacefully under the compassionate care of the dedicated staff in the Intensive Care Unit at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

James is survived by his soulmate of 18 years, Sue Brisebois, whom he met in 2004; his sister, Claire (Lenny Laing); and his parents, Richard Pearen and Sue Young. He was a friend to many and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

James was born in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on March 29, 1981. He was adopted by Richard and Sue within a 17-day window in April of that year. The Canadian High Commissioner quipped, “I don’t know who you are, lady, but you hold the world record for fastest international adoption, hands down!” To James and his family, it was simply “meant to be”

He attended public schools in Columbia, Missouri, Sherwood Park and Lacombe, Alberta, where he excelled in soccer and track and field, as well skipping classes. He possessed a natural aptitude for mechanics. His genius showed up early. At age five, he rigged a 40-foot cable from his bedroom closet to the front door using string and clothes he scavenged, so he could close the front door automatically from his bedroom! That ingenuity stayed with James throughout his life; he became a journeyman auto and heavy-duty mechanic. He practiced the trade for 15 years, until he was forced to retire as his illness progressed.

James carried himself with a quiet strength and a generous heart. As a Black man raised in a white household, he absorbed the love surrounding him and reflected it back with grace, respect, and a wonderful sense of humour. His wit was perfectly captured in a favourite family memory: when his sister, Claire, was struggling with the idea of being adopted, she mistakenly believed James was not adopted. She rushed to his room to “break the news” to him. He looked at his white parents, then at himself, and calmly replied, “Yeah, I think I’m adopted.”

He was creative in many ways. He loved Lego, pencil drawings and had a keen eye for photography. He was interested in current events, politics, human rights and economics. He loved animals – especially the cats he shared with Sue. He enjoyed listening to many genres of music.

The battle with inflammatory bowel disease started when he was ten. The years that followed were marked by fatigue, anemia, surgeries, and long hospital stays. The unpredictability of his health made employment difficult and contributed to quiet struggles with depression for much of his later life. Even during the darkest times, James maintained a sharp mind, sense of humour and fighting spirit. That spirit lives on in us.

Please consider a donation to either the Canadian Crohn’s and Colitis  https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/ or the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation https://menshealthfoundation.ca/ in his name. He wished for improved outcomes for those that followed in his footsteps.

Please join us in Celebrating James Life at the Rotary Park Picnic Shelter in Red Deer (43 Street & 48 Avenue) on October 8, 2026, at 3:30 PM. Feel free to bring a memory to share and a small item of finger food. As this is an outdoor gathering, dress for the weather and bring a lawn chair if you wish.