April 27, 1933 - July 26, 2022
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Margaret Patricia (Pat) Park on July 26, 2022 in Salmon Arm, BC at Shuswap Lake General Hospital.
Pat was born on April 27, 1933 in Bassano, AB, the second of two girls, to parents May and Dan MacLeod. Pat enjoyed growing up in southern Alberta and graduated from Alexandra Composite High School in Medicine Hat. Fresh out of high school, Pat joined her sister in Edmonton and found employment as secretary for the Dean of Law at the University of Alberta. This was to be the first of many clerical positions that allowed her to demonstrate her exceptional organizational and people skills.
Eventually Pat landed in Lethbridge, AB where she met the love of her life, Jim, while working for the RCMP. The two were married in 1958 and immediately were transferred to Penticton, BC where they started their family. In 1963 they found themselves back in Alberta when Jim accepted a teaching position at SAIT in Calgary. Summers found them returning to BC to holiday with family along the shores of beautiful Mara Lake. These vacations served to fuel their desire to return to BC permanently.
In 1970 Jim became employed by Okanagan College at the new campus in Salmon Arm, and he and Pat were excited to be calling BC home once again. They set about having a house built with a view of Shuswap Lake, and it was one they never tired of.
About this time Pat was hired by School District No.89 (now SD No.83) to be the secretary of South Canoe Elementary where long-time family friend, Bert Revel, was principal. Within the first few years with the school district, Pat had arranged for clerical employees to join CUPE Local 523 resulting in a substantial pay raise and had moved to the School Board Office to become secretary to the Superintendent of Schools.
Pat's career with the district flourished and she made lasting friendships with many of the people she met. She ultimately was responsible for the Personnel Department and never failed to remember that the most important resources in the district were the people. She was so touched to be honoured at her retirement party by former superintendents, CUPE, STA, Indigenous & Inclusive Education, School District Trustees and by district music teachers who performed an original song written just for this special occasion.
Pat touched everyone she encountered. She loved connecting with people and her laughter was infectious. Her family would like to extend sincere thanks to everyone at Shuswap Lodge for their support and friendship over the past three years. Thank you also to all who cared for Pat after the fall she took in June: BC Ambulance Service Staff, Vernon Jubilee Hospital Surgical Floor Staff and ER/Level Four Staff at Shuswap Lake General Hospital.
Pat was predeceased by her husband of sixty-three years, Jim, in October 2021 and is survived by daughters Nancy (Dion) Boisvenue and Donna Park (Rod Martens), as well as grandchildren Chris and Mike Boisvenue and Ben and Leah Martens. She also is survived by one sister, Donna Buchanan, of Edmonton and numerous nieces and nephews.
At Pat's request there will be no service. She would love to know that as you reflect on time spent with her, you make sure to recall those moments that were particularly humorous and maybe even have a laugh out loud.
'Laughter is the shortest distance between two people'.
~Victor Borge~