Obituary for Mrs. Patricia Palmer
Patricia Barrington Palmer, WRNS
December 26, 1922 – May 20, 2018
Pat died peacefully at home with her family holding her close, following a brief, terminal illness. She faced death with determination, courage and humour, having lived 95+ very full years. Pat was born in Irlam, England, daughter to Walter & Isabella Barrington and sister to Isobel. She worked as a medical secretary before proudly joining the WRNS, decoding enemy messages underground until she moved topside to serve as Lord Mountbatten’s secretary. On her way to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), to serve in the Peace Corps in 1945, Pat met her heart throb, Godfrey, an officer on the Empress of Scotland. Godfrey asked Pat up to his cabin to listen to Frank Sinatra albums (you can’t make this stuff up, people), igniting a love for the ages. They reunited in England, married in 1949 and with sons Miles and Guy, sailed to Canada in 1957, settling in Toronto. Godfrey became an investment manager and Pat tended to a growing family, as daughters Mirabel and Jill (aka Oops and Boo-boo) arrived, surprising everyone.
Pat had an easy laugh, dry wit and warm smile. Along with serving 25 years on the Belmont House Auxiliary, she loved reading, crosswords, history and tennis; during many a match at Dickie’s Meadow in Caledon, her infamous cross-court zinger would skim the top of the net like lightning, leaving her opponents agape. She played well into her 80s. Pat simply loved to feed people. Her soup pot creations were legendary and right through her final year she gave jars of her jam, lemon curd and mango chutney liberally and lovingly to friends, family, doctors, shopkeepers and the Renaissance Plaza concierges.
Predeceased by Godfrey, Pat leaves behind her children and their spouses: Miles & Eileen, Guy & Shirley, Mirabel & Gary, and Jill; grandchildren Nathan (& Sarah), Ben, Connor, Erin, Chloe, and Charlie, and great-grandson Harrison She is also fondly remembered by her family in England.
Our thanks to Drs. Camille Lemieux and Joshua Tepper for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Dept. of Family & Community Medicine, Toronto General & Toronto Western Hospital Fdn., or to Wounded Warriors Canada are appreciated
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Pat’s life on Saturday May 26, drop in noon – 4:00 p.m. Remarks at 1:00 p.m. At the Palmer-Elliotts’, 6 Hyland Ave. Etobicoke. Food and drinks will be served. No need to dress in black. We’ll be outside, weather permitting, so please wear shoes that will be comfortable on the grass. Parking: Hyland Ave. is very narrow. Best to park on surrounding streets: The Kingsway, McClinchy, Strath, Craik, Government, etc.
Map: www.google.ca/maps/@43.6569196,-79.5129914,17.25z?hl=en
To send flowers to the family of Mrs. Patricia Palmer please visit our Sympathy Store.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Patricia Palmer May 20 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Toronto, Province: Ontario
