ELISABETH EMILIE PATERSON

PATERSON, ELISABETH EMILIE May 28, 1951 - June 2, 2021 Elisabeth Emilie Paterson (nee Sawicki) born in Toronto in 1951, passed away in her 70s, in British Columbia where she lived joyfully since 2012. She was the daughter of Emily Sawicki of Saskatchewan, deceased. Elisabeth also had siblings which she happily "divorced" in 1985, and was an inspiration to many others in Ontario and B.C. who also wished to "divorce" their unpleasant siblings, to enjoy a happier life. After her formal education, Elisabeth began a successful career as a Paralegal until she retired in 2017. One of her favourite, yet labour-intensive, achievements was writing a fiction novel of international intrigue which she called "a 427-page labour of love". Friends affectionately referred to her as "Lady Elisabeth". She was smart, funny and enjoyed a well-travelled life from Bermuda to Aruba, Morocco, Portugal, repeated trips to Tuscany, Italy and dozens of countries in between including a Trans-Atlantic voyage from Barbados to North Africa. For her birthday in 2016, she travelled alone to her beloved Italy, one of her most valued memories. She was adored by various friends internationally, in B.C., and in Ontario who treasured her wit and wisdom. Elisabeth had 1 divorce, 2 cancers, and the 3 men who loved her, one of whom, from his Mediterranean home, searched for her for 37 years. His loving connection decades later brought her much joy. She had a huge capacity for helping others, with her volunteer work since 1999 (following her first cancer) plus her financial donations to the B.C. SPCA and the Canadian Cancer Society. Our beautiful and funny friend, Elisabeth will be dearly missed every day but always remembered.