Paul Raymond Weiss
Obituary for Paul Raymond Weiss
August 5, 1947 – August 24, 2026
If you ever spent time at Paul and Carolyn's house, you'll know there was almost always music playing.
Sometimes it became part of the conversation. Sometimes it quietly filled the background while one glass of wine stretched into an evening on the porch. Music wasn't just something Paul listened to. It was something he shared. Friends left with new artists to discover, recommendations, and playlists.
On the 24th of August, Paul Raymond Weiss died surrounded by music and the people who had been the soundtrack of his life: Carolyn, his wife and best friend of over 60 years, and his daughter Samantha. He was held by the love of his son-in-law Jeff and his grandson Finny, who meant so much to him. It was peaceful. It was full of love. It was exactly the kind of ending Paul would have chosen. And if he'd had complete control over the moment, there probably would have been a cadillac margarita in his hand.
Paul will be lovingly remembered by his extended family and friends who were such an important part of his life, including his brothers, Steve, Karl, Ben and their families as well as the whole Colautti family.
Paul was born in 1947 and grew up in Ottawa. He was active in football, baseball, rugby, and track and field in his youth and early adulthood. He graduated from Carleton University in 1968 and joined what is now KPMG, where he obtained his CPA and was later selected as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He moved to Toronto with KPMG in 1971 and retired after a distinguished career of over forty years. After retiring, he moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where he enjoyed life while continuing to serve as a director on a number of significant corporate boards for the next twelve years. He was also involved in several not-for-profit boards, including serving as chair. Just last year, he settled with Carolyn in Vancouver to be closer to Sam, Jeff, and Finny.
Those are the facts of his life.
But they are not the story.
When Paul was diagnosed with advanced cancer, he wrote to his family and close friends. Looking back, it feels as though he had already written the heart of his own obituary:
"I'm in my 79th year and not without recent ailments which have limited my ability to enjoy some aspects of the life I once had. Nonetheless, I've had a very good run and have no regrets (well, maybe smoking for over 40 years). I'm at peace with all of this and very much enjoying my family and the home which Carolyn made for us in Vancouver."
Then, in classic Paul fashion, he summed up an entire life in a few simple sentences:
"I've enjoyed my life, lived in a number of beautiful houses and have collected a lot of great stuff over the years. However, you realize that life is not about what you did and the things you collected; it's about the people you met along the way."
Those people became lifelong friends, chosen family, and the great joy of his life.
He cherished friends from his school days in Ottawa who remained close for more than sixty years, as well as the friendships made in Toronto, those forged during forty years at KPMG, and those built throughout twenty-five years in Niagara-on-the-Lake. He had a remarkable ability to stay connected to people. Time and distance rarely got in the way of a friendship that mattered.
He also made them laugh.
Paul had impeccable comedic timing. His one-liners usually arrived with a perfectly straight face, often at your expense. Kids weren't spared either. They simply got recruited into one of Paul's ever-growing collection of secret handshakes. He had a gift for reminding people not to take life, or themselves, too seriously. Even near the end, the jokes kept coming.
Paul loved beautiful homes, and Carolyn has a remarkable gift for creating them. Together they filled those homes with great food, good wine, music, laughter, and people. Whether that was in Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara-on-the-Lake, or Vancouver. Once he found places he loved, he went back year after year and brought family and friends to his cherished spots in Cape Ann and Mexico.
Above all else, there was Carolyn.
She was, in his words, "my best friend, my love, my world and my guiding light." Anyone who spent time in their home can probably still hear Carolyn saying, “Oh, Paul...” after one of his crass jokes in front of innocent young ears or when he was inevitably burning something on the barbecue. Together they created homes that made everyone feel welcomed and built a life based on loyalty, generosity, laughter, and unwavering love. Paul knew just how lucky he was.
He was immensely proud of Sam. Not because of what she has accomplished, but because of who she has become. He loved the life she and Jeff built together and often said they had something not every couple has: they were teammates with a great deal of mutual respect. And, because no compliment from Paul was ever entirely straightforward, Jeff could always count on hearing, "You're not a bad cook."
Watching Finny grow into a thoughtful, kind, level-headed young man was one of the great joys of Paul's later years. His advice to him was simple:
"Do enough to keep all your options open. Always think things through but, in the end, do whatever your heart tells you to do."
Paul's first granddaughter, Aurora, will always be part of his story. Although her life was heartbreakingly brief, she remains forever woven into the fabric of this family. Love isn't measured in years, and neither was hers.
Ever practical, Paul wanted to leave as little for others to do as possible. Naturally, that included taking a stab at writing his own obituary. He wrote to his family and friends, “The worst part is leaving the ones who care behind. Know that I loved you and that I’m at peace”. Paul also shared this paraphrased sentiment with us:
"You can shed tears because I've gone or you can laugh because you lived my life with me."
So laugh.
Tell one of Paul's stories. Stay on the porch a little longer. Call an old friend. Go out for dinner. Pour yourself something you enjoy. Put on some music.
And if you want to honour him, honour the request Paul chose to leave us:
“Do something good for somebody in need.”
We will gather at a later date to celebrate his life the way he would have wanted, with family, friends, music, laughter, stories, and perhaps a margarita or two. Details will be shared when plans are made.
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