Patricia Fay Nesbitt passed away at the Shuswap Lake General Hospital on November 4, 2009.
She was born March 17th, 1922 in Lethbridge, Alberta to Helena and Gordon Fay Davies. Her mother’s maiden name was Helena Jean Simpson from Blenheim, Ontario. Patricia took nurses training and was an advertising copywriter and writer for radio in Toronto, Ontario.
At 21 she married Walter John Banigan of Toronto, Ontario (now deceased) and raised her children, the eldest son Tyhson Banighen (Jeffery Hugh Banigan), Lee Nesbitt (Shelley Jean Banigan), Tracy Stauffer and Niki Banigan in Castelgar and Robson. She divorced Walter and moved with the three youngest children to Vancouver, where she married Bruce Clifford Nesbitt of Vancouver, B.C. (who is also deceased).
She was a foster Mom for 25 years and taught crafts and painting to seniors, dressed scores of dolls and knitted a lot of stuffed animals for the Easter Seal House in Vancouver. Her efforts brought smiles to the faces of many seniors and sick kids.
Once she had raised her children she moved to Salmon Arm and bought a house with her daughter Lee Nesbitt and concentrated on her poetry, watercolour painting and volunteer work. She was actively involved in the Senior Resource Center, the Shuswap Writers Group and the Church of Awakening Spiritual Growth. She was an avid reader, fond of animals, an environmentalist and a Blue Jays fan.
She will be missed by her children and her grandsons, Timothy Joel Banighen of Kelowna and Joey Scrimshaw of High River, Alberta, her granddaughter Justine Banigan of Burnaby, B.C. and her great-granddaughter Cailie Banighen-Williams of Kelowna, B.C. and her many wonderful friends in the Shuswap.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Recreation Center (SASCU) Room 1 at 11:00 am Saturday December 5th. Some of her poetry will be read, personal memories shared, songs sung and some of her paintings will be on display. A silent auction of her remaining paintings will take place with the proceeds going to the Senior Resource Center. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Seniors Resource Center in Salmon Arm
“I am content ... at One
with all I see...
Flora, fauna and me
we all sing the same song
Heralding Spring
I am alive and free!”
From Musings by Pat Nesbitt
Arrangements entrusted to Fischer’s Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Salmon Arm (250) 833-1129 Email condolences and share memories at www.fischersfuneralservices.com