Patricia RAYMAKER

RAYMAKER, Patricia Claire (nee Walsh)
The Raymaker family is very saddened to announce the passing of Patricia Claire Raymaker at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary on February 12, 2017, after a brief but fierce battle with cancer. Pat was born on February 21, 1944, at the Calgary Grace Hospital to Claire Gertrude Walsh and Francis Sinnot Walsh, the second of four children. She grew up in the family barracks of Canadian Forces Base Calgary in southwest Calgary, where her father served while her mother worked as a nurse. She graduated from Calgary's St. Mary's High School in 1961 before attending the Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing, from which she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1964.
Pat was a loving mother of three, friendly neighbour and energetic pillar of her community of Briar Hill-Hounsfield Heights-West Hillhurst. She was instrumental in organizing local parents to keep Briar Hill Elementary School open in the 1970s amid threats of closure, and served as the President of the Briar Hill Kindergarten program. Pat's efforts helped convince the provincial government to fully fund the first year of Early Childhood Education programs.
Pat's dynamism and passion served her well as a nurse and healthcare professional, helping improve the quality of life and care for people of all walks of life. In doing so, she discovered a passion for political organizing and advocacy that took her to national leadership roles resulting in major progress for seniors, women, head trauma sufferers and those living in poverty. She was a believer in strong, well- funded, public healthcare and fought passionately for accessible health programs and innovative solutions to emerging challenges.
From 1987-1994, Pat was a director of the Calgary District Hospital Group that operated the Rockyview General, Holy Cross and Colonel Belcher hospitals. She fought hard to protect the quality and funding of healthcare as the provincial government prepared to close beds and sell off public assets to private interests. Her tireless work helped save the pediatric care ward at Rockyview General Hospital that was scheduled for closure. As the President of the Brain Injury Association of Alberta from 1994-1998, Pat helped raise awareness of the treatment and prevention of traumatic brain injury, and to better integrate those living with brain injury back into the community. As a board member of the federal National Advisory Council on Aging from 1994-2004 (and its chairperson from 1997-2004), Pat helped transform the council into an ambitious body that made important recommendations to improve the quality of life of all seniors. At the time, the common belief among policymakers was that aging issues revolved around managing medical costs. Pat advocated to better integrate seniors into the community through healthy habits, independent living, accessible transportation and socialization opportunities. She helped mobilize seniors' groups to advocate for these policy changes, and represented Canada at several international and United Nations conferences on aging.
Pat's passion and policy interests made her a formidable political organizer working on behalf of the provincial and federal Liberal parties, and this passion never wavered in hostile political climates. She started out helping manage husband Darryl's four election campaigns, quickly becoming a dynamic powerhouse of her own. She co-ordinated the successful Alberta leadership campaigns of Liberal leaders John Turner, Jean Chrétien and Stéphane Dion, and was a key supporter of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She managed or chaired Alberta election campaigns for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1990s and 2000s.
Pat had a lifelong passion for the Holy Cross Hospital, especially its School of Nursing. She helped build a strong alumni network that did incredible work on behalf of the hospital. She was heartbroken when the Alberta government closed the hospital and sold it to private healthcare interests, which only fed her desire, protect public healthcare and confront the threat of privatization.
Pat was married to her loving and devoted husband for 52 years. They shared many passions like politics and world travel. They were an incredible team that found great satisfaction in mentoring young people in political activism, progressive causes and advocacy.
Patricia is survived by husband Darryl Raymaker, Q.C., sons Derek (Egle Procuta) of Toronto, Patrick (Lisa) of Charlotte, NC and daughter Nicole (Robert Martin) of Calgary; sister Trudy Hughes (Bob), brothers Don Walsh (Regine) and John Walsh (Nancy), and many nieces and nephews. The Raymaker family would like to thank the staff of Unit 73 and 74 of the Rockyview General Hospital, the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Dr. Laurie Pereles for the great care they provided Pat.
Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W. Calgary, AB) Today, February 16, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers and cards, Pat would like donations to be sent directly to the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, RPO 52051, Edmonton Trail North, Calgary, AB T2E 8K9 https:/ /www.calgarywomensshelter.com/index.php/give and the Calgary Seniors' Resource Society, 3639 - 26 Street NE, Calgary AB T1Y 5E1 Telephone 403-266-6200 http:/ /www.calgaryseniors.org/donate-now
In living memory of Patricia Raymaker, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.