Patricia Boyle

Patricia Boyle died on Saturday, 2 April 2011 in Victoria, BC. She was born in Guelph in 1941 and lived in London, Ontario, London, England, Saskatoon and Calgary before coming to the west coast. It was during a brief and lucky stop in Newfoundland that she met her beloved husband of 30 years, Neil.

She will be sorely missed by her husband; her sons, Colin and Iain; her daughters-in-law, Kip, Karen and Nicole; her grandchildren, Naëlle and Owen and by many, many relatives, friends and people whose lives she touched.

Pat was a cherished wife, mother, and grandmother. Her life blossomed when she had her two sons. She raised them with unconditional love, doting affection and sound advice. She had the gift of giving children her absolute attention and always celebrated the special moments of her family’s life. For Pat, family included many of her son’s friends, to whom she was like a second mother. She took the same delight in being a grandmother. It gave her the utmost joy to play with her grandchildren, teach them the names of plants, and read the stories that she had read to her own sons years before.

She was blessed with a husband who loved her absolutely and whom she loved absolutely in return. Their travels together to six continents, gardening and many games of scrabble were part of a deep love that began from the moment they met.

Pat was a true renaissance woman. She lectured at the University of Western Ontario in geography, worked as a writer and editor in the oil patch, was a Calgary School Board Trustee and later, Advisor to the Calgary School Board on Gender Issues. She was a strong feminist role model for all the women in her life – and the men, too, including her two sons. She was particularly proud of her role in ending corporal punishment in the Calgary School Board, her work with male primary school teachers, and the work she did for gay and lesbian students.

In Victoria, she dedicated herself to becoming a native plant gardener with special interests in Garry Oak ecosystems. She was proud to help naturalize the woodlands at Government House, which she coordinated with many other volunteers. She received the Acorn Award in 2009 from the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team.

She loved many things, including her friends, books, cryptic crosswords, Canadian art, Scrabble, birding, travel, hiking in the Rockies (particularly Lake O’Hara), politics, and people. She had an amazing ability to bring out the beauty around her, in her relationships with people, gardens, and homes that she lived in.

There will be a Celebration of Her Life at MCCALL’S FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson & Vancouver Streets, on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 2 pm. Anyone who wishes to say a few words about Pat will have an opportunity to speak, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to contribute to Pat’s passions are encouraged to consider donations to Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team, Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society, and the Government House Woodlands gardens. She would also be delighted if you could plant a native plant, pull an invasive weed, or put up a birdhouse on your property. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.

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