Patricia “Pat” Atkinson (née Norman) passed away at the Royal Jubilee Hospital on October 20, 2018 and will be greatly missed by her children, Michael (Marlys), Maureen (Mike), Peter (Lorinda), and grandchildren, Shanae, Kieran, Graham and Finn. Pat will also be keenly missed by her many close friends.
Pat went to high school in Langley then earned a degree at UBC. In the UBC choir she met her soulmate and husband of 54 years, Glen Atkinson, who left us at the end of 2014. Pat taught primary school and later ESL, delighting in learning about students’ birth countries.
She and Glen brought their three kids to a small town in Northern Queensland Australia – Atherton – in 1974, where both taught for two years before travelling home to Canada. Their time in Australia led to many enduring friendships and many visits of overseas friends. Both Pat and Glen were great appreciators of nature, always looking for new adventures (and new birds).
Pat and Glen backpacked through Southeast Asia with their three kids in 1976. The pair’s wanderlust led to many more travels, to exotic locales such as Papua New Guinea, Galapagos Islands, Sulawesi, and Africa. Adventurous travel tendencies were also kindled in the three kids and their families. Pat and Glen arranged two wonderful family adventures, bringing all their kids and grandkids to the Queen Charlotte Islands and to Costa Rica and Panama.
The many rollicking parties Pat and Glen hosted included themed affairs and their annual Christmas Eve party for family and friends, full of singing and games. Music, particularly singing, was a shared passion of Pat and Glen. Pat was an integral offstage member of the Grandview Quartet and Trio and a central member of The Gems (a group that came together out of the Crystal Singers). Patricia was an excellent bridge player, and engaged in competitive games of all types with zest, humour, and youthful enthusiasm.
The decades of weekly hikes and sincere conversations with her great friends in the Wednesday Wanderers group were a particular highlight for Pat. Pat was an extraordinary mother and grandmother and a gentle soul, very loving and giving to all in her life.
Pat’s life will be celebrated at the Strawberry Vale Community Hall, 11 High St. (just off Burnside Rd), at 2:00pm, Thursday, November 1.
Feelings and memories may be shared below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com.
Allan Mawdsley
October 24, 2018
Pat was such a wonderful, precious, special lady and will be sorely missed.
Allan (Grandview)
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patricia Prette Atkinson October 20 2018..
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique