October 23, 1932 – September 8, 2025
Patsy passed away peacefully with her family beside her on Monday, September 8, 2025 at her home in Pioneer Ridge. Patsy was born on October 23, 1932 in the Markdale Hospital and was raised in Eugenia Falls with her family.
She moved to Toronto in her teens to live with her sister Marjorie’s family and work as a Bell long distance telephone operator, a job she was very proud of. One day, a chance encounter on a bus with a man named Jack Doughty had him singing “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” to her. While they didn’t know it then, he would sing to her every day after for the next 74 years.
After getting married in 1951, they began building a life and family together all across Ontario that would eventually see four children, eight grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild with another on the way very soon. Patsy often boasted that she bore four children in four different cities with daughter Denise born in North Bay in 1953, daughter Susan born in Lindsay in 1954, son Johnny born in Toronto in 1958 and daughter Jacquie in Brockville in 1965.
In 1967 they moved to Thunder Bay, then Fort William, where they would stay and establish roots throughout the community for the next 58 years.
Patsy was wonderful, kind and compassionate with a great sense of humour. She never hesitated when you needed a little help, a hug or a nice cup of tea. Her door was always open and she was the second mom to all our friends and extended families.
Patsy and Jack owned a camp on Devon Road for many years where the entire family made long lasting memories of swimming, sleepovers, riding dirt bikes and skidoos, and so much more. An avid sewer, Patsy hand-made all of her children’s clothes while they were growing up as well as numerous wedding dresses and bridal gowns. She taught sewing and quilting all across Northwestern Ontario and was always proud that her Canada Summer Games 1981 quilt hung on the walls at City Hall.
She loved to give back to the communities she lived in, from being President of the Northwood 55 Plus Centre to President of the Kinettes in Brockville. A fierce competitor, Patsy loved golfing in fun tournaments, curling and playing cards with good friends the Hansens every Saturday night.
Patsy is survived by her loving husband of 74 years, Jack. Daughter Denise, (Larry), grandson Kristopher (Dianne), great granddaughter Miranda, granddaughter Keri (Eddie), great granddaughter Jaidyn (Hunter), great granddaughter Lauryn (Joseph), great great granddaughter Scarlett, daughter Sue (Gerard), grandson Jesse (Randi), great grandsons Ellis and Jenner, grandson Jamie (Emily), great granddaughters Penelope and Audrey, son Johnny, grandson Tommy (Tassia), granddaughter Jenna (Logan), daughter Jacquie (Doug), grandson Jordan (Carolyn), great grandsons Leif and Andres, great granddaughter Georgia, grandson Jacob (Rosalee) and great granddaughters Hanna and Charlotte. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and their families.
Patsy was predeceased by her parents, Laura and Thomas as well as her siblings George, Gord, Walter, Betty, Marj and Ruth. She was also predeceased by many other family members, too many to mention but all loved dearly by Patsy.
Due to her declining health, Patsy made Pioneer Ridge her home for her last few years.
Thank you, thank you to Pioneer Ridge, Monarch Manor, the other levels of the home and especially all of the multidisciplinary staff throughout for the extra special care she received in calling Pioneer Ridge home.
Please join us on Friday, September 19, 2025 at the EVEREST – WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street, at 11:00am. We look forward to sharing stories, laughter and love in Patsy’s memory.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Dementia Gardens at https://cerah.lakeheadu.ca/dementiagardens/
Please stand up, turn around and look up and say goodbye to Patsy.
Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
