Patricia Ann Clarke (nee Conlin), known to all as "Pat", passed away on Sunday, January 17th, 2021 at the age of 86 years. She is predeceased by her loving husband Len and her son Bob. Pat is survived by her children Len (KaiSze), Joan (Dan), Betsy (Greg), Kevin (Pammy), and Matthew (Tracy) as well as her precious grandchildren Michelle, Sarah, Stephanie, Matthew, Satori, Rachael (Luke), Hannah, Ken, Angela, Rebecca, Jessie, Julia, Kevin, Maddie and her great-grandson Adam. She also had many nieces and nephews and her sister-in-law Marlene Conlin.
Pat was born on March 7th, 1934 at Saint Paul’s in Vancouver, the second daughter in a family of four children. She grew up in the Dunbar neighborhood in Vancouver and attended Immaculate Conception Parish School, Little Flower Academy High School, UBC, and Nurses Training at St Paul's Hospital. She was a keen student and excelled academically at every level.
Pat married Len Clarke on January 26, 1957, at St. Bernadette Parish in Los Angeles, California, and their honeymoon was a drive back to Vancouver in a borrowed car. They made their home and raised their family in North Vancouver and Holy Trinity Parish. Their family grew to 6 children. Together with Len, Pat created a home that was warm and welcoming to all and the site of many large family gatherings.
Patricia was a woman of faith, passion, and compassion. Family and faith were the centers of her life. She was a generous friend who loved to laugh and travel and an engaged citizen who closely followed politics and enjoyed vigorous debate. In addition to supporting (and skiing with) her active children, Pat volunteered for years for pro-life and other social justice issues and served on the Board of Catholic Charities of Greater Vancouver.
In 1986 Pat was the first woman to be the graduation ceremony keynote speaker for Vancouver College Catholic school. After a 27-year break in her nursing career (to raise her family) Pat committed to an extensive “refresher” training program at BCIT, then worked as an RN for a number of years at St. Vincent Hospital Extended Care. She enjoyed her work and made close friends with many of her coworkers.
Retirement eventually included travel with Len and dear friends and cheering at her grandchildren’s games and concerts. Pat was whip smart and throughout her life, she was blessed with a clear sense of who she was and her role in the world. This made her struggle with dementia extremely cruel. Courageously and with humor, Pat and Len faced their declining health together with determination to live independently.
Due to COVID restrictions, a small private funeral took place on Thursday, January 21, and Pat was interred beside her beloved Len at Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery in Surrey.
Pat’s family would like to thank Shastine and Elizabeth for their compassion and steadfast care for Pat. We would also like to thank all the staff at Amica Lions Gate for their compassion and professionalism under incredibly difficult circumstances.