Patricia Joyce Parsons-Sellers-Shaw
January 19, 1938 to March 12, 2021
Strong, fun-loving, independent and resilient. Patricia was born in Toronto and lived more than 83 years with a sense of adventure and curiosity. As a young adult she moved with her parents to Willow Beach and soon met Bill Sellers, who she married in 1957 and lived in Jackson’s Point, Ontario.
At the age of 21, Patricia began to work at the hardest job there is: to be a Mother. Within four years there were four kids, yet she still found time for baseball, curling and hosting many events with friends and family. One of her favourite days of the year was in early September when the kids returned to school and she had a few hours for herself. Throughout her life she rescued many cats and dogs from shelters and her fur kids were a true source of joy.
In 1978 she heard the call of the Wild West and moved to Calgary, Alberta where she spent 20 years, including 10 years with her next husband, Ray Shaw. Patricia described her marriage to Ray as a three ring circus (engagement ring, wedding ring and suffering). After Ray, she vowed to stay single and enjoyed dating numerous men-sometimes at the same time. She travelled, danced, laughed, loved and lived life fully. She took some time off from her real estate career to travel back to Ontario to care for Bill in his last six months. In the end it was only Patricia that Bill would entrust with his care.
She eventually returned ‘home’ to Ontario and spent the last 21 years in Pembroke. Her failing eyesight never seemed to hamper her ability to win card games with her daughters, and she willingly surrendered her license at 80 to protect the concrete pillars in local parking lots.
Pat’s children Judy (Andy), Linda (John), Norm (Alison) and Wendy (Peter) will forever be grateful for a childhood filled with many lessons and great memories. Although Patricia grew up as an only child, she raised her kids to look out for each other, to think independently and she instilled both a wicked sense of humour and a high level of integrity. She was enormously proud of her kids, and considered her role as mother to be her greatest success.
The legend of ‘Nana-Pat’ will live on with her beloved grandchildren: Blair (Donna), Shawn (Kat), Christine, Madison (Steve) & Jessica, and with her step-grandsons: Dan and Jim. She had 10 great-grandchildren: Winnie, Andrew, Heyleigh, Scarlett, Winston, Cashin, Benson, London, Charlie and Evelyn.
She leaves behind her dear sister-in-law Mary Lou – who she always considered a sister, and many treasured nieces and nephews.
If Pat had a weakness it may have been the inability to refuse either a butter tart or a dance with a cowboy. Patricia died as she lived – on her own terms. She is now at peace, after passing at home, in bed, with her children at her side.
The family would like to thank the extraordinary care by the specialists at Bayshore Health, particularly Nick (lead RN), Dr. Echum and Dr. Forfar. We’d also like to thank Dr. Angus Daniel of Beachburg for providing general medical care in recent years. We are most grateful to Mom’s dear friend – Bev – for being there through the years, in good times and in bad.
As a tribute to Patricia (aka Mom, Nana-Pat, Auntie Pat, and many other names) please enjoy a moment silence to remember a time she laughed with you. She will forever be in our hearts.
Read Less
To plant a memorial tree in honor of Patricia Shaw (Parsons), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patricia Shaw Parsons Friday March 12th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Pembroke, Province: Ontario