I first met Pat and John after I retired in the early 2000's. I was a member of Nature Manitoba and joined the group , called " The Grey Hares", lead by John and Pat. An outdoor active retired group.

John was the organiser and leader. Twice a year we met at their house. They and the other volunteers planned how to spend each and every Wednesday on some outdoor activity. Planning for 6 month for the Spring and Summer months , and for six month of Fall and Winter. The activities were cycling , hiking , cross-country sking, snow shoeing , skating , paddling and overnight camping .

I did not know anything about canoeing and camping.. They were both very friendly and welcoming to any new member. I had never been camping before. They taught me everything. How to get organised for a camping trip . What equipment , clothes and food to bring. Through their encouagement , advise and help , I got to enjoy leading camping trips. Without The Grey hares I would never have gone to and enjoyed so many Provincial Parks.

Two things I remember about Pat and John when paddling. They both agreed that we should always paddle around a lake , close to shore , so we could see the fauna and flora , animals and birds. Pat was the expert on flowers and John trees. John always said , "do not cross in the middle of the lake , you won't see anything interesting . Paddle along the shore line. So true.

After they had spent a long day paddling , when it got dark ,they would retire into their tent.I remember , no matter what , they enjoyed their own company so much , that there would always be the sound of laughter and goggling, coming from their tent. That and the sound of the loon , was a very happy camping sound.

Pat often baked a cake for desert when camping. She new I did not eat nuts , but everybody else did , so there would be a corner of the cake with a sign , " Charles's corner". Thank you Pat.

I have so many happy memories with Pat and John, They added so much my life. Thank you both.

Dear Mark and Cindy, Mike and Carla

Your care, respect, and the love for your mom is felt so deeply in the words and photos you have shared with us. Although we did not know your mom directly, we can see and understand the kind of person she was reflected in the both of you, and that tells us that she was an amazing woman.

Our deepest condolences to all of you. We send our love, Jim, Julie, and Kallie.

Dear Pat

So many ,many ,great ,great memories of time spent with both you and John while camping , canoeing and at Thomson"s Turrett .You were a wealth of information on the vegetation and an inspiration to us all -may you rest in peace and I hope there is a canoe where ever you are ! Nothing will ever be "quite nice " again without thinking of you

Having been best friends with Mike and Carla for 35+ years, we've been fortunate to have had many visits with Pat and John during this time. Here are a few times that stand out:

One year when Mike and Carla & Mark and Cindy were going to be away for Christmas, we invited Pat & John to have Christmas dinner with our family. She thanked me but said they had other plans. I told her if anything changes to let me know. I was thrilled to receive a call from Pat a few days before Christmas and asked if the invite was still open. Of course! We were delighted to hear their plans fell through. She was so thoughtful and brought the most wonderful basket of treats, jams, teas, baking and assorted nuts. We had a fabulous evening - eating, talking and laughing. It made for a special Christmas.

Quite a few years ago, I was in a car rally with a group of ladies. We were given a bunch of missions to complete and had to take pictures of each completed mission for points. One such task was to go to Kings Park, start a fire in a firepit and cook an egg on the bottom of a coffee can which was provided. The bottom of the pit was uneven and one of our group members holding the stick under the can to level it, dropped the stick. The egg slid off the can into the dirt. The group was distraught as we were quite competitive. I told the group I had an idea. I phoned Pat and John who lived nearby and asked if we could borrow an egg. I told Pat what it was for, and she said to come right over. When we arrived, she offered to cook the egg for us. The group agreed that we would place the "perfectly" cooked egg on the coffee can and take a pic. You've never heard a group of ladies laugh so hard. Probably because it was the first time we had ever "cheated" on anything. Pat enjoyed the humour in it all and was happy to have been part of the team! Needless to say we didn't win, but our group still laughs about it to this day, Such a fun memory!!

Our sincere condolences to John, Mike and Carla, Mark and Cindy. We will remember Pat for her welcoming hugs, infectious smile, wonderful accent, incredible baking, her perfect cups of tea, her caring nature and her sense of humour. We will miss you.

Sending love to the family from Mom and I. Pat was such a joyful positive person. I will never forget Pat and Drew touring us through London back in the 60s, their knowledge of history as well as fun stories as we zipped around in their tiny car will always be a treasured memory.

Pat and John helped me through the hardest part of my life with their enduring friendship.

I'll be forever grateful.

Rest in piece my friend.

Auf Wiedersehn!

Here are a few photos of Pat.

Pat was the leader of the first Grey Hares activity (at Sage Garden Greenhouses) we attended in September 2013. We enjoyed many Grey Hares activities with Pat & John ... especially camping and canoeing. Condolences to John, and to Mark & Cindy who we know from mountain biking outings.

Dear Mike and Carla, Mark and Cindy and especially John,

We didn't know Pat well having only met her a couple times but

reading her obit, we learned just how accomplished she was in so many ways. Our good friends, Mike and Carla have told the occasional story over the years which revealed her sense of humour. One in particular we have adopted for our adult children. We now have a binder where many important details are kept just in case our kids need to make decisions on our behave. Thanks to Pat, it's called "The Snuff It" binder. We are sorry to hear of her passing and we wish we could carry some of your sadness but may you find comfort in knowing how many people are wishing the same thing. Please accept our condolences.

I met Pat through the Grey Hares active group of Nature Manitoba. Early memories of attending twice yearly planning meeting's at Pat and John's lovely home on Greirson Ave; then many canoe trip adventures. One such 3 day trip in Whiteshell PP was memorable for Pat's quiet but determind admonishment of John when he told June to paddle only on one side of the canoe... June Thomson was actually trying to make up for her bow person ( it was not me ) who was 'lily dipping ' in very windy conditions...Pat said to John.... "it's OK John...June knows what she's doing " !

I will cherish the memories and shared wisdom of Pat. I learned so much about plants from her...especially those next to waterways.

I last visited Pat and John last Autumn before I returned to my home in Kelowna for the winter. As usual, Pat had prepared a lovely light lunch for June and me.

Thank you for all you did for the Grey Hares and for your wonderful friendship with June and me.

My sincere condolences to John and all the family!

I was lucky enough to meet Pat at LSE and we had a lot of fun with a group friends many of whom stayed in contact up til the present day although it is sad but inevitable that too many are no longer with us.

I will never forget the look on Pat's Father's face as Pat stepped onto my motorcycle. He was right to be concerned; I was not the best rider in the world!

Subsequently we kept in touch and I particularly enjoyed the clever photo montage cards at Christmas which gave a glimpse of the joint adventures John and Pat had during the year.I should also mention how grateful I am to John and his parents for letting me stay with them in Victoria way back in 1960

Pat had a very constructive life and took enormous pleasure in sons, Michael and Mark and their wives.

My heartfelt condolences to all the family and especially to John.

I have so many memories of early morning visits Pat paid to my mom. Often with a new pattern or craft idea in mind (knitting, baking, pressing flowers, rhubarb plants,

tomatoes). Both Pat and John, such amazing friends to my family over decades. And Pat was loved and was so proud of her boys and their wives. Thank you Pat, for everything you did for my mom. I am so grateful.

Pictures will be available early next week.

Dear ,Mark, Cindy, and families of Pat

We offer sincere condolences on the passing of your mother. From reading the obituary, she had accomplished a lot during her lifetime. May the many years of memories you have, keep her close to your hearts and thoughts.

When Michael and I started dating, Pat loved when we came over for dinner. She’d cook a fantastic meal, and John would say it was “quite nice”; this quickly became a family joke. While my exuberant nature was something she wasn’t used to, she loved it. I am so grateful for all the time we spent together in their home or ours, hiking, at our cottage or dog walking together on the weekends. She loved our dogs like her own. I remember one time we were away, and they had Dexter when our dog sitter went home for 2 days. Pat noticed “white things” in his “business” in the back yard. The next time he went out, she followed to check his fresh “business” to see if he had worms. Turns out he’d gotten into the dry rice at our house and the dogsitter didn’t tell them. I will always laugh out loud when I visualize her out there in the snow with a flashlight and a tweezer going through Dexter’s “business”. While she lived a long and incredibly full life, it’s just so hard for me to believe she’s gone. Love you Pat, Carla