Patricia Fritzel died at home, with her family, July 11, 2008, after a nearly 40-year battle with cancer.
Patricia Olive Leonard was born on March 15, 1936, in Mitcham, Surrey, England. In 1947, she was awarded a scholarship to Mitcham County School For Girls studying English, literature, languages, music, and art. She completed an English and French teaching degree at Goldsmith College in 1958 – including a year off as a fille au-pair in Boulonge, France.
After teaching for four years in England, she emigrated to Canada and taught high school in Port Alberni from 1962-1964. There she met her husband, Alfred Fritzel, also teaching in Port Alberni. Alfred and Patricia were married at on July 25, 1964 in Mitcham, Surrey, England. They both taught for one year at Red Hill Technical College in Surrey, England. In 1965, they traveled by Cunard ocean liner and train to Maple Ridge, British Columbia, where they both worked from 1965 – 1968. They settled in Salmon Arm in 1968, both teaching at Salmon Arm high school.
Patricia loved to garden, had a great appreciation of nature, and a great love of music. She sang in many choirs throughout her life, including the Shuswap Singers, the United Church Choir and the Aura Chamber Choir of Vernon. She loved her adopted country, her church community, and working for social and environmental justice. She was a member of the Council of Canadians, the Kairos group at the United Church, Shuswap Environmental Action Society, and the Canadian Cancer Society.
She is survived by her husband Alfred, her children Anne in Olympia (husband Tom and children Adam and Samuel), Gene in Dawson Creek (wife Kim and children Andrew and Nicholas), and Graham in Red Deer, Alberta, and her sister Kathleen in Great Britain.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the United Church of Salmon Arm on Saturday, July 19, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Box 3451, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4S2.
Arrangements entrusted to FISCHER’S FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORIUM LTD., Salmon Arm, 9250) 833-1129, condolences may be e-mailed to fischers@sunwave.net.