Our Wife, mother and grandmother has succumbed to the cancer she so valiantly fought for three years. Pat (as you would have known her) was born in Birkenhead, UK at the onset of WW2. She and her family survived the blitz, but the memories of her experiences in those dark times would always remain. Pat was active in her youth with Guiding and eventually Sea Rangers, where she learned and loved sailing, a sport she taught her family and enjoyed for the rest of her life. While music and acting were her first loves, she was passionate about the vocation that would take her across continents. She became a teacher at an early age, but dreamt of adventure abroad. At her father’s urging, she contracted for a year of teaching in Kuwait! Just before she left she met a young engineer at a car rally. After a few meetings together he put her on the plane to Kuwait and said goodbye for a year. Pat and her housemate became close friends, enjoying amazing adventures across Kuwait, Egypt, Iran and Iraq. While she was in Kuwait her Engineer decided that the future was in Canada. He took a job in Peterborough ON and Pat followed at the end of her contract, taking a teaching position at a local elementary school. Socially, Pat flourished in her new environs, participating in local musical productions and choirs. They were married in the UK in 1966. Together they returned to Peterborough before making their way to Montreal. It was there that they started the family with twin boys. After a job offer from a Sudbury mining firm Pat and her husband and two boys settled in Falconbridge, ON. Pat immediately jumped into the social scene but her focus was raising her two boys, then bringing a third boy and finally their daughter into the world. Pat eventually returned to teaching part-time. She busied herself by getting a Fine Arts Music degree from Laurentian University. She threw herself into her music, singing in churches and with choirs. She was proudly a founding member of the Sudbury Chamber Singers, with whom she sang for 46 years. Pat became involved with community theatre and as a result was able to perform major roles in some of her favourite musicals. Her favourite role as “Anna” in “the King and I” saw her become a professional actress! She was always a huge supporter of the arts, and even though she did not always appear in shows, she took on support roles using her experience to help other organizations like Theatre Cambrian. Pat returned to teaching moving seamlessly from adult education through elementary levels and on to teaching special needs children, and was always proud of the accomplishments of her pupils. Pat and her Engineer eventually retired from work, but not from life. More time was spent together on Manitoulin Island at the family camp where they entertained their many friends and acquaintances. As usual, she brought her talents to the local Church, singing mass whenever required. The travel which she had only dreamed about when she was young became a thrilling reality. Months long expeditions to Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia occurred. She loved to observe and absorb the cultures of every place she visited. Time was spent “back home” visiting family, friends and touring the UK. Even into her golden years Pat was always occupied with a project, initially as a Chairperson for Theatre Cambrian and then as a member and leader of the “Sudbury Rising Stars” performing for small community audiences. There is no doubt that she loved her entire family fiercely and had a zeal for living her life to the fullest. Pat always had a spirit about her that made the best of circumstances. When she was initially diagnosed, she truly believed that she would continue to live her life the way she always had – with a love for people, a love of adventure, a love of the arts and a love of life itself. She fought to preserve this ethos even as the difficult days increased over the good days. She leaves behind memories in us all of a great soul and a life well lived. Pat is survived by her brothers Martin (Joy) and Mike (Marion); her husband Mike; her children Stephen, Anthony (Callie), Chris (Jenn) and Maggie (John) and grandchildren Scott, Alex, Nicholas, Benjamin, and Mackenzie. Our family would like to thank Dr. Desmarais, Dr. Gill, Dr. Singh, and the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at the Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North Hospital and the ER for the skilled and compassionate care Pat received over the course of her illness. A Funeral Mass followed by a reception will be held at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Sudbury on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 10:30 am. Donations to one of Pat’s favourite charities – Covenant House and the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated. “The curtain went down at the end of the last act… The crowd jumped to their feet and there was thunderous applause…”Rest peacefully. Cremation services provided by Simple Wishes of the North, Sudbury.
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