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Patricia Holmes Obituary
HOLMES, Patricia Leslie July 12th, 1926 January 9th, 2011 Patricia Leslie Holmes, nee Siddens, died in the evening of 9th January 2011. at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. Pat was born at Dunsley Manor in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England, only daughter of Harry & Sylvia Siddens and schooled at Lawnside School, Malvern. Pat spent her early childhood engrossed in horses with her best friend Danny. She joined the WRNS during the Second World War and served in Plymouth, Devon, where she met her future husband Desmond Holmes, a Canadian from Victoria, serving in the British Army in the Royal Engineers and they married in 1947. Together they raised five children Victoria, Richard, Patrick, Peter & Michael. Pat raised her first two children, Vicky & Richard, with the help of Dede in North Devon while Des served in Korea in 1950-52. As a military family Pat & Des, & children travelled extensively first to Fort Belvoir, USA, where Patrick was born in 1953, back to England, then Northern Nigeria 1957-61, back to England where Peter and Michael were born, and then Aden 1963-65. With his retirement from the British Army, the family returned to Des's native Victoria and Pat established Sherwood Creek Farm, a notable and chaotic farm and riding stables in Metchosin amongst a diverse assembly of horses, riders, and menagerie of animals. After almost 20 years in Metchosin Pat & Des moved to the family cottage at Maltby Lake and later to Saanichton. Desmond was hospitalized in 1990 and did not recover. Her beloved daughter Vicky died in 1997 from leukemia and Pat moved back to England for 5 years recapturing her English roots in Abbotsbury, riding and walking the Dorset hills. Returning to Canada, Pat spent her last few years in Sidney closer to her family. Pat is survived by her son-in-law Jean-Philippe Plomb (Vicky) and by her sons Richard (Susan), Patrick (Val), Peter (Danielle) & Michael, her grandchildren Nicole, Martine, Joelle, Chantal, Alexander, Tara, Morgan, Ben, Chelsea, Katy, Harry, Wildy, Caroline, Jacqueline, and great grandchildren Christopher, Oceane, Gabi, Charlie, Amelia & Keel and Harry her dog. Pat was a remarkable lady and led a life of adventure, had a special love and expertise for horses and dogs, and a warm and welcoming spirit to family, many friends and strangers, two footed and four footed alike. An announcement will be made shortly with respect to a Memorial to be held in February. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com . or to [email protected] 614497
Memories and Condolences
for Patricia Holmes
Sponsored by Her loving family.
13 Entries
January 24, 2011
To all the Holmes Family,
We were so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom/granny Pat. I can still see her coming to visit Desmond at the lodge, arriving in her jeep, wearing her hiking boots & carrying 2 Starbucks coffee's and I remember thinking how young at heart she was & how lucky I would be if I managed to have a fraction of the energy she possessed when I reached her years. Her vibrant personality was a joy to be around & will be deeply missed by all who knew & loved her. You are all in our thoughts & prayers during this sad time.
Dan & Sharon Burgess
Nancy Charles
January 17, 2011
Pat was a wonderful, often challenging, always loving and very special Grand Dame. I enjoyed looking after Pat and Harry. The dog park will never be the same. May there be a welcome bench to go to to remember her kindness and her generosity to everyone. Nancy Charles and Roxy. (Eldersafe Support Services)
sally dailly (cupples)
January 16, 2011
Thanks Pat (and family) for the fun times at the farm in Metchosin. Beauty, intelligence and a great sense of humour-a rare combination!
January 16, 2011
dear Mike, my morning man.
I didn't know your mom, but her good advice (through you) helped me deal with my little dog. She must have raised all of you well, if your integrity is an example of her influence.
take care.
Barbara Kennelly
January 16, 2011
Dear Mike, Harry, Wildy, Caroline and Jacqueline
I am so sorry to hear about your Mom/Grandma. I hope that special, fond memories of her will comfort you during the difficult times, and always. You are all in my thoughts and in my heart. Sending love and a hug to you all,
Erika & Adam Kanczula
January 16, 2011
Dear Richard, Susan and family.
Our thoughts are with you during this time of lose. Hopefully, you will find comfort in the fact you had all the time you did. It is never easy but we know you will be able to draw comfort from your family and frieds while remembering the good times.
Carmel & Woody THOMSON
January 16, 2011
Dear Richard, Patrick, Michael, Peter, and Jean-Philippe,
Woody and I offer our deepest condolences to you and your families on the passing of your mother.
Pat was an accomplished woman who lived an amazing life. She was handsome, articulate and elegant. She possessed courage, great spirit and integrity, and expect will always be remembered as a gentle matriarch; a loving and most caring mother and grandmother.
It was inspiring and humbling to read the memorial to your mother. It brought back precious memories of our time with her, Desmond and Philippa at Sherwood Creek Farm and Highland Lake. Pat is a favourite Aunt who will be sadly missed and is remembered with much fondness.
No doubt your mother will be watching over you and all family always.
Our sincerest sympathies,
Carmel & John (Woody)
Rougiers
January 16, 2011
We were very sad to hear about Pat. Our family has such great memories of times spend together, with everyone at horse shows or even just getting together for tea and a walk in Beaver Lake. Pat had a great zest for life and will be missed greatly.
Love Marilyn, Michael, Nina and Karen Rougier
Jennifer Holmes Maxwell
January 16, 2011
Dear Richard, Susan, Patrick, Val, Michael, Peter and family.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your families. Aunty Pat was such a wonderful person and so kind to myself and my sisters and our Mum Joan all our lives.
I always remember her calling us "darlings"
My heart goes out to you all during this time of loss and sorrow.
Hannah Chesher
January 15, 2011
My deepest condolences to your families. I have some wonderful memories of visiting Great Aunty Pat out at the farm and the lake with my Granny Joan over the span of my childhood. She was always so warm and welcoming. Aunty Pat will be greatly missed!
January 13, 2011
I, as a riding student at Mrs Holmes' stable, can be numbered among her "diverse assembly of horses, riders, and menagerie of animals." My Metchosin childhood was happy as a fabulous consequence of the "chaos and notability" of Sherwood Creek Farm. As a parent, I have apishly and expensively tried to replicate my own childhood for my offspring. Mrs Holmes: remember how you were broke when your kids were at Brentwood? Same here. But we endure it because you imbued us with the importance of training. Horses. Kids. Whatever the cost, the end product would be worth it. We are the end product and look at us now. We love and appreciate the work ethic you instilled in us and we are passing it down to our children and our students. Thank you for every stall I had to muck, every jump course I had to challenge and every steak and kidney pie I had to politely consume without gagging. You taught me everything.
January 13, 2011
Dear Mike and family...May the love and memories of your mom help ease your sorrow. With deepest Sympathy, Sue Daniels-Ferrie and staff at Pemberton Holmes Sooke and Pemberton Holmes West Shore
January 13, 2011
Richard, Susan and family - I often think of your mom/Harry and the great visits we had while walking our dogs. She was a vibrant force and a great person to share with. It was fun visiting Saanich Fairgrounds and being part of "her" horse environment. She will be missed. - Sheila Jones (formerly of Eldersafe, now living in Duncan)
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