Patricia Ann PEARSON

1923 - 2021

PATRICIA ANN PEARSON (nee Broughall) June 3, 1923 - April 9, 2021 Patricia Ann Pearson passed away peacefully at Sunnybrook Veterans' Centre in her 98th year. She was the daughter of Cyril Hurd Broughall and Madeleine Trotter. Affectionately known as Pat, Mum and 'Dan' (she had asked for 'Gran', but her first grandchild could not say 'Gr'), she was predeceased by her beloved Bernie and daughter, Barbara, dear sister, Nancy Fairweather and brother, James Broughall. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Janet Miller (Jeffrey), Colin Pearson (Brenda) and Bruce Pearson (Jackie) as well as by her grandchildren, Caley Blyth (Mike), Kimberley McClean, Emma Miller (Ryan) and Joey Miller (Anna) and great-grandchildren, Madeleine and Maeve Blyth. Pat grew up in Toronto and attended Forest Hill Village School as well as Forest Hill Collegiate. When the family moved to Ottawa, she finished high school at Glebe Collegiate. In the fall of 1941, she began her studies in physiotherapy at the University of Toronto. Soon after graduation, in 1943, she was approached by the Physiotherapy's Association's Military Affairs Committee to join the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. After time in Sherbrooke, Hamilton and Halifax, she set off for England with her dear friend Libby and became a valued member of the physiotherapy team at Guy's Hospital in London. Upon her return to Canada in 1946, Pat continued to practise physiotherapy in Ottawa. In the summer of 1948, she went on a holiday to Red Pine Camp on Golden Lake and there she met her darling Bernie. They were married in June of 1950 and for the next 64 years, continued to hold hands and walk through life together. What busy and adventurous years they were. When their four children were still very young, Bernie was asked to take charge of building the Ford plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. While he was off working, Pat somehow managed to learn to drive on 'the wrong side of the road', trundled the children back and forth to school and soon made friends in the American and Canadian Women's Club. Just when she and the family had settled into their new life, Bernie was transferred to Melbourne, Australia. Apparently, he was needed immediately, so Pat was left on her own to pack up the house and pack up the family and traverse the continent of Africa with stops in Pakistan and India. Finally reaching Melbourne and ever resourceful, Pat set out to find new schools and to create a new home. She soon made new friends and as a devoted mother, even fostered a guide dog puppy who needed five fresh cooked meals a day. In the fall of 1964, the family moved back to Canada and settled into a forever home in Clarkson, now part of Mississauga. Assured that she would not be moving again, Pat re-established her career as a physiotherapist while continuing to be the heart and anchor of the home. Her life with Bernie was one of joy and adventure. They built what became known as 'Bernie's Porsche and Pat's Chalet' as a retirement retreat in Collingwood. He never did get his Porsche, but he cherished his beloved sailboat, Tot Siens ('until we meet again' in Afrikaans) and every year, Pat would bravely sail off with him to Georgian Bay and the North Channel. In retirement, they also continued to pursue their love of travel and had many fabulous trips and experiences all over the world. A veritable textile artist, Pat was an avid knitter, seamstress, needle pointer and quilter. She began to knit when she was five years old, could knit and read at the same time, and was able to create perfectly interwoven patterns in Fair Isle sweaters while knitting one colour European style with the left hand and another colour, Canadian style, with the right. She grew up sewing her own clothes and when she had her four children, she made their clothes and hand smocked dresses for her daughters, eventually sewing a wedding dress and the bridesmaids' dresses for her daughter's wedding. Many of the beautiful chairs made by her grandfather were decked out in lovely, new, needlepoint seat covers. After her beloved daughter, Barbara died, she needed to immerse herself in something new and thus began her love of quilting. She created beautiful quilts for every bedroom in her home and the chalet in Collingwood and also made quilts for each of her children and grandchildren. They and the 'Dan made it' sweaters will be treasured forever. Pat was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. It was a great comfort to the family that she spent her final years at Sunnybrook Veterans' Centre as we knew that she was safe and loved, even as the restrictions of the pandemic kept us away. We would like to express a sincere thank you to all of the wonderful people who took such good care of her. We are especially grateful to Dr. Shergold, Helen, Simon, Mark, Jennifer, Teresa, Wes, Christine, Norma and Anne Marie. To our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Tot Siens. A memorial celebration will take place when we are able to gather together again. In lieu of flowers, if you should so wish, donations may be made to the Sunnybrook Foundation, Veterans' Centre.