PATRICIA ANNE KING

(nee MacLea, January 22, 1944 - January 16, 2026) Pat passed away peacefully in hospital with her husband by her side. Pat was born in Glacé Bay, Nova Scotia and grew up in Toronto in the Beach attending Courcelette Public School and Malvern Collegiate. It was at Malvern that she met the love of her life and they were married 6 years later. An extraordinary 60-year marriage and life together had begun. Living in New York City in the 60's and London, England in the 80's fueled Pat's great love of the wonderful Art Galleries, Museums, Theatre, Opera and Music that these great cities have in abundance. In the 70's she moved with her expanded family to the Far East, arriving in Hong Kong with our 6 month old first born son. After living in Hong Kong for 2 years we moved to Singapore where our twin sons were born, both with multiple handicaps. Thus began an adventure and challenge which Pat took on with courage, determination and much love. She was a fighter and fierce supporter and advocate for all three of her boys. A true force of nature as she navigated and dealt with the health care systems in Singapore and later Toronto and London. Always positive and with her sense of humour intact, she aimed high in seeking the best opportunities and outcomes. Pat lived life to the full. She was artistic, creative, and had a unique style. She was warm, welcoming and kind and made friends everywhere she lived. She was a wonderful artist and filled our homes with works of art, vivid colours, music and love. Pat's favourite home was London. It was her absolute happy place. It was where her boys grew up, forged life-long friends and developed into good, interesting people. She loved visiting new places and travelled extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa. One especially memorable trip was a safari in Kenya with two of our boys. We also had an exciting cruise down the Nile with friends from London and a flight to Abu Simbal. We skied each winter at a variety of alpine resorts and settled on Zermatt as our favourite. Pat was a very good and brave skier but apres ski with family and friends was her favourite part of a ski trip. Pat enrolled the boys in English Schools and got them involved in a wide variety of programs and activities, all the way from Cricket and Harrow football to swimming and riding for the disabled at Buckingham Palace. We had marvellous neighbours on the street where we lived in St. John's Wood, several of whom became very dear friends, and the boys grew up with a gang of mates, in a very welcoming and friendly environment. We would often spend weekends in the English countryside or with friends at their country house in Hampshire. Pat would expertly drive the boys and tour the many visitors we welcomed, all around London in her blue VW Minivan. She was energetic, optimistic and positive. She never tired of London, and did not want to leave. However, we eventually did move back to Toronto in the late 80's and Pat again took on the task of establishing our home and getting us all settled. New schools, new Doctors, new programs all tackled with renewed energy and her innately positive approach. Pat was a realist; honest, genuine and straight forward in her dealings with people. She had a certain toughness and could spot a fake from a mile away. Two of Pat's special accomplishments and one very special event occurred during this period. Pat discovered and purchased our farm and acquired a home for our two boys. Andrew, our first born son, met his wife to be in London and they moved to Australia to be married. The farm became a focal point for family gatherings and entertaining friends, both new and old. Located on the Niagara escarpment south of Collingwood, Pat transformed the Victorian farmhouse with a large, spacious, wheelchair accessible addition and filled it with art, colour, music, warmth and love. Close to Glen Huron and Creemore, we enjoyed golf at Mad River and skiing at Blue Mountain. As our two younger boys got into their 20's, Pat decided they needed a home of their own. She visited dozens of apartments and condos over a period of many months and finally found the condo she knew would work perfectly. Well located on the ground floor across from a wonderful park in an excellent neighborhood, she set to work designing, modifying and equipping with maximum accessibility top of mind. The result was as near to perfection as possible and she again filled it with art, colour, music and lots of TLC. With the marriage of Andrew and Annette in Australia, we commenced a new long distance relationship and travelled to Sydney and around Australia on many occasions. They have since moved to Brisbane and their family is growing and thriving. The grandchildren are all getting excellent grades and maturing into talented young adults. Pat is survived by her husband Doug, her sons, Andrew (Annette), Peter and Edward, and her three grandchildren, Olivia, Sebastian and Lachlan, and her sister Linda (Nico). She also leaves her close in-laws, Ed King (Ann), Marjorie Paradine and predeceased by Jeanette Lambie (Russ) and Jim Paradine. She also leaves many wonderful nieces and nephews for whom she had great affection and a keen interest in their lives and activities. Pat was an amazing woman. Her passing leaves a huge gap in our hearts and lives. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched and especially by her husband and three boys. A Celebration of Pat's life will be held in the Spring. Those wishing to honour Pat's life are invited, in lieu of flowers, to donate to New Visions Toronto, the Organization that provides such excellent staffing and support to her two boys. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.