Lekhram Goorachurn

Goorachurn, Lekhram (Lekh)

December 4, 1939 - September 4, 2025

“What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us” Helen Keller

It is with heavy hearts that we sadly announce the passing of our beloved Lekhram Goorachurn: husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, great uncle and friend at the age of 85 years old.

He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Lynn-Dell, two sons Anil (Amanda) and Ashley (Lin) along with their grandchildren Kyle and Sophie, his sister Ishwaday, and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Lekh is predeceased by his parents, Luckeea Pertaub and Guness Goorachurn as well as his older brother Hemraj.

Born in Benares, a sugar estate village located on the beautiful island of Mauritius, Lekhram and his siblings had been primarily raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents died when Lekh was five and nine respectively. He was the second oldest of his two siblings. Though he had a late start to schooling, having gone to a private kindergarten and only beginning public school in Grade 3, he always valued education. With a tenacious spirit, Lekhram managed to catch up in his elementary school studies, competing with his classmates for the privilege to sit on the front bench when one had achieved top weekly test scores. His weekends as a child were spent playing soccer, cards and the board game, Carrom, at his friends’ homes or in community centres. In summers during his early teen years, he helped his uncle with bookkeeping for the labourers who worked to harvest the manioc (tapioca), ensuring that the workers were compensated for their work. No calculators in those days! This activity would spark his lifelong interest and curiosity in mathematics and economics. Though the high school he attended in Phoenix, Mauritius meant catching a train at 7 am and returning at 7 pm, he had fond memories of debating clubs and summer camping trips with friends to different parts of the Island.

After graduating from high school, Lekh taught at a private high school while waiting to attend Teacher Training College. After Training College, he taught for six years. He loved teaching and would coach his friends and their brothers and sisters for free. With friends he also started a private girls’ school as there was none in the village. Then he was accepted into Brandon College in Brandon, Manitoba on a fully paid scholarship. Focused on completing his BA in two years, he also worked in the university library to earn extra money to send home to his uncle. From there, Lekhram went on to complete a Masters degree in Economics at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

It was there at the University of Manitoba that he met Lynn-Dell at the campus bookstore. They were acquaintances from Brandon College but this first encounter would lead to a loving relationship of 54 happy years. From this moment his family and teaching would be Lekhram’s priorities. He taught for one year in LaBroquerie in rural Manitoba, two years at Keewatin Prairie Community School (formerly Cecil Rhodes School) in Winnipeg and the rest of his 24 years at River Heights School teaching Mathematics and Science to French Immersion students. He was so well loved by students and staff. Even after retiring to Victoria, former students would greet him in Victoria, so happy to see him again.

He was a loving father to his two sons, Anil and Ashley. He spent countless hours with them, coaching their soccer teams and driving them to hockey games and practices. When they were young, the family would rent a cabin on Lake Winnipeg during the summers. As they got older, Lekhram enjoyed organizing family road trips across Canada, the United States and to Mauritius. He also sponsored his brother, sister-in-law and their children to come to Winnipeg, helping them to become established.

After 30 years in frigid Manitoba, Lekhram decided to retire to Victoria, a city he would dearly love as it fondly reminded him of his beloved Mauritius. To keep himself busy, he worked at Radio Shack and Telus before purchasing an online French children’s bookstore, Oui For Kids. He loved this role, serving customers and doing the bookkeeping. When Lynn-Dell was ready to retire from teaching, they purchased School House Teaching Supplies in Victoria, which they operated for six years. He continued his passion for numbers, keeping the books for Lynn-Dell’s French Book Store, Librairie Côte Ouest, and being treasurer of their townhouse strata from 2010 – 2024.

Lekhram and his wife enjoyed decades of travel to various parts of the world and visiting Mauritius to spend time with his family, childhood friends and the beaches. He was one of the best trip planners, constantly pouring himself into researching a place for things to do beforehand and exciting his travel cohorts with the details.

In Victoria, Lekhram was a beloved member of the Mauritian community. His friendly disposition made him endearing to everyone who knew him.

Lekhram selflessly dedicated his life to his family. He was so proud of his two sons, enjoyed watching each milestone his grandchildren achieved, and treated his daughters-in-law as his own.

The family wish to thank the surgical team and many compassionate staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital for the care they gave him. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Support Surgical Innovation (https://www.victoriahf.ca/donate/) so that they can perform more minimally invasive surgical procedures, like the one that Lekhram experienced.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Lekhram on Saturday, October 11:00 at 2:00 PM at the Parkside Hotel and Spa, 810 Humboldt Street, Victoria, BC