Patricia, affectionately known as Pat, passed away peacefully at the Veteran’s Memorial Lodge at Broadmead. She was predeceased by her father and mother, Arthur and Ida, her husband William (Bill) Champion, her sisters Simone, Anne, Leonie, Agnes, and Yvette, and her brother Rheo. Pat is survived by her sister Louise Jeanson and brother Donat Loiselle, both of Winnipeg. She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Pat joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 and served in the Fraser Valley as a parachute rigger until WWII ended. She then attained her nursing degree at the University of Ottawa and continued to serve as a military nurse. She was posted to many cities in Canada from Halifax to Victoria. She also spent four years at No. 4 Wing RCAF base in Baden-Baden Germany, allowing her to travel extensively throughout Europe in the 1960’s. She retired in 1969 with the rank of Captain and settled in Victoria. Her nursing career continued at Victoria General Hospital followed by a decade as a private nurse for the Ross family of the infamous Butchart Gardens. She made good use of her lifetime pass to Butchart Gardens as she enjoyed flowers and fireworks displays in the summer – she quite literally stopped to smell the roses.
Pat was witty and had a wonderful sense of humour. She loved to spend time with family and friends, who fondly remember her laugh and how her face lit up when she shared stories about growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan and her adventures abroad. Pat was an accomplished painter and writer and an avid Bridge and Crib player. She loved to knit, cook, bake and she poured a wicked dirty martini. She was a positive and charitable person, as anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her could attest.
Pat’s family would like to thank the staff and care aids at Jesken Aerie and the Lodge at Broadmead for supporting Pat with love and compassion over the past year.
To quote Pat’s favourite farewell: “see you later alligator; in a while crocodile; not too soon you big baboon.”
A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 1:00 pm, at the Royal Oak Burial Park, 4673 Falaise Drive, followed by a reception at the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army, one of Pat’s favourite charities.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Trish Baylis
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Nicola Loiselle You will be missed Auntie Pat, especially by the boys who loved you dearly. My fondest memory is taking you up on a visit in between classes at UVic for a sandwich and game of crib. Your bright light always shined bright. We will miss family dinners with you and your lively conversation. Rest in peace.
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Marlee Loiselle You will be miss Auntie Pat, see you later alligator.
Love Marlee
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Richard Jeanson In my younger years, travelling to Victoria to visit Aunt Pat and playing a few rounds of golf and a few rounds of beer with her. Rest in peace. Richard
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Lori Olson I remember giving (Grandma) Pat piano lessons while attending Uvic. Between me being an amateur music teacher and Pat in her sixties, we had a lot of fun together!
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Kim Monney-Rodstrom (Winnipeg) I have fond memories of visiting great-auntie Pat when we travelled to Victoria. We would spend the most incredible days at Butchart Gardens together. She was a great storyteller, we loved to hear her life adventures. She lived such a vivacious life; a true example of living life to the fullest. Aunty Pat, you will be greatly missed.
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Lesley Aunti Pat will be missed. I am doing my best to make her service. I lookforesrd to connecting with my family in this time.
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Donna Monney I’m missing Auntie Pat and the wonderful phone calls we had. I remember as a child sitting in her fancy car her in Winnipeg . It had a carved mahogany dash . I was so impressed. My mom Leonie Loiselle looked up to her big sister.
Pat was my mentor at Naden Hospital in the OR. She was witty, kind, super intelligent and a go getter. We kept in touch over later years and her sense of humour was refreshing and her wit. Covid got in the way of visiting her before she moved but we spoke on the phone. She loved Bill to the end unconditionally and missed him deeply. She was wise. Rest in Peace, you are and will be missed. See you later alligator..Trish