CATHRO, Pat
1932 - 2016
Patricia Victoria Elizabeth Cathro (née Scott) passed away peacefully on November 11, 2016 surrounded by her three sons. She was 84.
Pat is predeceased by her husband Bob, and survived by her three sons Mike (Suzi Tevendale) John (Kare) and Gary (Jessie Pratt) and grandchildren Claire, Callum, Zack, Reed and Fynn.
The youngest of seven children, Pat grew up in Red Deer, Alberta. Her father ran the general store where all of the Scott kids worked after school. Rex, the family border collie, would walk down at closing time to accompany Pat and her father home, the start of a life-long love of dogs.
With her three dear friends Marge, Bea and Joan, Pat trained as a registered nurse with the Grey Nuns at Edmonton General. A lover of adventure, Pat took off to work and travel across the US in the late 50's, nursing in Montana, Connecticut, Texas and Seattle. But her adventures were just starting. In 1960, Pat took a job in a mining camp in Port Radium, NWT. One night a geologist came in to the ward saying he had cut his hand badly with an axe. Pat took and look and said, 'but this is barely a pin prick!' And the geologist said, 'yes, but it's the only way I could meet the new nurse'. They would be married for 54 years.
Pat and Bob spent most of ten years up north moving to Yellowknife to Keno Hill and finally Whitehorse before settling in Vancouver. They stayed very close to their northern friends, and Pat loved to tell stories of those days.
While Bob was up north in the summer, Pat would load up the car with her three boys, the cat and dog and head to Galiano Island. The Alberta relatives would come to visit, the kids would swim, fish, ride bikes and comb the beaches, and Pat would effortlessly apply bandages and keep everyone fed and entertained. She was unapologetic about putting ice cubes in her wine and loved nothing more than telling stories of growing up on the prairies, living up north, and her three boys.
Her strong spirit and great sense of humour will live on. She has touched many people with her love, laughter and generosity. Family was everything to her, as was her willingness to help others. Pat's legacy is friendship and kindness.
The family would like to thank Dr. Del Begio, Dr. Lawrie, Dr. Nguyen and the staff at Royal Inland Hospital and the Kamloops Senior's Village for their grace and care in her last months. A Celebration of Life will be held in Red Deer in early 2017. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cancer Society.