Patricia Marjorie (O’Day) Wynne
October 17, 1928-November 11, 2022
Patsy O’Day was born in Nassau, Bahamas, first child of Stephen O’Day and Marjorie Albury and older sister of Stephen. When Pat died, she had already lost her lifelong love John Wynne and her second daughter, Evie. She leaves behind her three daughters, Kathleen (Jane), Ann (Peter) and Marie Hodgson (Doug), her 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren beloved by every one.
While her birthplace was idyllic, her early years were full of loss. By the age of 10, Patsy was an orphan and throughout her long life, she felt the responsibility of caring for her beloved younger brother and the pain of feeling very alone in the world. At 14 her Aunt Kathleen and her grandparents sent her away from the island to attend school in Toronto. Patsy already knew that she wanted to study music. She wanted to be on the stage and at the end of Grade 12 in 1947 she began her studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
There are three major chapters in the story of Patsy’s adult life. In the first, she is a glamourous, talented soprano singing and dancing and acting her way to the stages of Massey Hall, Spring Thaw and the CBC. In this chapter, she meets her Canadian sweetheart, John Wynne, and they begin their 70-year romance and their lives in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
In Chapter 2, four baby girls dominate the plot. Pat loved mothering. Her home and kitchen table were always alive with children, her own and others. The other theme in this chapter was using her volunteer energy to build community. Pat worked with young disabled adults to form a touring singing troupe called the ‘Villatones’. She fought the local government for better services for young people in Richmond Hill including teaming up with friends to start a drop-in centre for disenchanted youth in the 70’s. Her own kids were often surprised to find an overnight guest or two in the basement—kids who had nowhere to go. This work led directly to Chapter Three.
Pat began a long career as a play therapist in the early 70’s. She worked with colleagues following the guidance of Rachel Pinney to form and sustain the Children’s Listening Centre in North York, challenging Mayor Lastman and the provincial government to step up to properly fund children’s mental health services. Her commitment to helping children and their families kept her practicing well into her 80’s.
Pat was a great and loving mom; she was an artist, a singer, a world-class listener. She was a feisty contrarian whose Irish lust for a fight never ever left her.
She was happiest when she was by water—whether the ocean, her first love, or with John on the shores of Lake Opeongo in Algonquin Park.
We will all miss her so.
Pat’s family is very grateful to all the staff at Sunrise Richmond Hill, Riverwood Senior Living in Alliston and to the staff and volunteers at Matthews House in Alliston.
If you would like to make a donation in Pat’s name she was always supportive of youth treatment programs that work:
Tuff Therapeutic Riding Foundation
tuffriding@gmail.com
We will hold a celebration of Pat’s life at a later date and will post those details at www.druryfuneralcentre.com
Arrangements entrusted to Drury Funeral Centre, Alliston
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patricia Marjorie Wynne October 17 1928

November 11 2022..

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Death notice for the town of: Alliston, Province: Ontario

death notice Patricia Marjorie Wynne October 17 1928

November 11 2022

mortuary notice Patricia Marjorie Wynne October 17 1928

November 11 2022