Patricia Louise Lawrence
Aug. 30th, 1933 - Jan. 1st, 2017
Following the final and unexpected illness of her last ten days, Patricia's soul was mercifully released from her earthly body to soar to another existence - a life where illness and pain are felt no more. She leaves behind Garry, her loving husband of 25 years and his son Jonathan; her daughter Shannon (Julian) and children Nicholas and Kaitlin; her son Kerry (Susan) and Kerry's children Bobby Lynn, James, Christopher and Shelby; also, Dwight (Linda) and their children Dwayne and Carol, as well as Dwight's brother Roger and sister, Bonnie. She is also survived by her sister Kathleen Pike and sister-in-law Georgina Boyle. She was predeceased by her sister Norah but still remembered fondly by some of Norah's children as "Auntie Pat".
Born on a farm just outside of Winnipeg, she learned to appreciate the animal kingdom as well as the satisfaction of a life of hard word. Upon graduating from high school, she took a comptometer course and soon found employment in the city. As the years passed most of her working days were spent in Calgary with Gulf Canada Marketing and later with Petro Canada in an administrative capacity. Even though severely hampered over the years with ill health she always worked full time until her retirement.
As a girl barely in her twenties, she married Orville Clark, a widower with four children, ranging from the age from seven to their early teens. As time went on she and Orville raised a "blended" family of 'his kids our kids', although much of the early upbringing of these children fell to Patricia alone while Orville was posted to the Northern DEW line.
Being the great, great Granddaughter of Marie Anne Lagimodiere, the first married white woman to adventure west of the Great Lakes, Patricia was intensely proud of her French-Canadian heritage. In later years she researched and recorded in a journal much of the early family history, a project of great pride and interest to her and in much demand by many members of the present day family tree.
Later in retirement, with time on her hands, she took to knitting beautiful tea pot cozies as souvenirs for her family and friends - today there are few households that don't enjoy the warmth and pleasure of one of her beautifully crafted cozies.
Although not necessarily a perfectionist she always gave and expected from herself and others the very best. She will be remembered for her elegance, her excellent taste in good clothing and personal appearance. She enjoyed classical music, good food and good company. For her, there were no half measures in anything that she undertook.
She delighted in all creatures of nature, whether it was our resident Jack Rabbit, as he/she crouched in the brambles at the bottom of the garden or the Fox that barked outside her bedroom window in the dead of night or the Deer that came to nibble on the blossoms of her flower beds, she loved them all. Perhaps her greatest pleasure was in watching the last rays of evening sun lighting the very tips of nearby poplar trees as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves in one lingering farewell. But most of all she loved her home and the peace and contentment she found therein. To quote Shakespeare, "we shall not look upon her like again". Friends of Patricia are invited to join the family for a Memorial Service to honour her memory at St. Leonard's On-The- Hill Anglican Church, 4241 - 44th Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Flowers are gratefully decline, but if so desired memorial tributes may be made to the Arthritis Society at www.arthritis.ca/support-us or the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca/Donate?.
Condolences can be forwarded to www.sylvanlakefuneralhome.ca.
Cremation has been entrusted to
Rocky Mountain Crematorium, Rocky Mountain House, AB.
SYLVAN LAKE AND ROCKY FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORIUM,
your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements. 403-887-2151