Mary "Pat" Patricia Lovejoy

Mary Patricia “Pat” Lovejoy was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on July 24, 1936, the 3rd of 5 daughters born to Edwin Maurice Roberts and Elizabeth Ritchie (Anderson) Roberts.

Growing up in Westmount, Pat was an accomplished athlete at Westmount High School, participating in the basketball, badminton, and swim teams.

Pat met her first husband, Donald Knight, in Westmount when he came from Manchester, England as a student minister at her church, Calvary United Church. and they married in October 1959. Don attended university at Sir George Williams University in Montreal during the week and oversaw a congregation in New Haven, New York, where Pat lived to set up their home as newlyweds. Pat and Don welcomed 2 children, Laurie Elizabeth (1960) and Mark Edwin (1962) while living in New Haven. In 1962, the family moved to Trappe, Maryland, where the pattern was repeated: Pat and the children living in Trappe full time, while Don attending Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC during the week.

Don acted while in school and, in 1965, the family moved to North Hollywood, CA so Don could pursue an acting career while continuing his work as an ordained minister. The 60’s and early 70’s saw Pat rubbing elbows and attending events with the likes of Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchem, and Michael Caine. In 1973, Pat and Don divorced and Pat began working at the corporate offices of House of Fabrics, as a Sales Analyst, moving her way up to Management. Her career with HOF spanned 25 years, including a stint as the HR Manager. When HOF was acquired by Joanne Fabrics, she transferred to Joanne Fabrics and continued to serve in the Real Estate department until her retirement. She always looked at her time with HOF with fondness and laughter.

Pat married Robert Howard Lovejoy in February 1976, and moved to Burbank, CA. Pat, Laurie, and Mark joined Bob and his two daughters, Tracey and Kellie. The newly formed family of 6 traveled the US during the bicentennial in a motor home, visiting historical sites, Pat’s family in Canada, and Bob’s family in Idaho. The “California Street Kids” remain friends to this day.

Pat and Bob divorced in 1986, and Pat moved to North Hollywood. She ultimately purchased her own home in Burbank in 1999 where she lived until her death.

Pat enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter (Ashley Lauren Knight) sharing favorite books, singing Barbara Streisand songs, and researching her family history. She was viewed as “mom” by not only her own children but by their friends and their extended family.

Pat passed in Burbank after a short illness. She is survived by her daughter, Laurie, her son, Mark, her granddaughter, Ashley, her youngest sister, Nancy Helen (Roberts) Adams, 8 nieces and nephews and their families, and countless “found family” members who will miss her greatly. 3 sisters, 2 nieces, and generations of family, loved ones, and friends are waiting for her on the other side.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a gift to Shriners Children’s in honor of Patricia Lovejoy. Your gift will support the young patients that she deeply cared about. Please click here to make a gift in honor of Pat or send to Shriners Children’s, Attn: Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 or online at www.shrinerschildrens.org/honor. Thank you.

From Pat:

This composition reflects my feelings about all my family and friends who have gone on before me, and the trip I will take when my time comes.

Parable of Immortality Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, “There she goes!” Gone where? Gone from my sight….that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There she goes!” there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

Saturday, July 27, 2002