Mary "Pat" Patricia McDougall

It is with great sadness that the family of the late Mary Patricia McDougall (née O’Driscoll) announce her passing at Shannex Parkland in Clayton Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 18, 2016 at the age of 84. In her final years and without a word of complaint she served notice to several foes, including breast cancer and dementia, that not a single day would she surrender. May she forever rest in peace.

Pat, as most people called her, Drick in her beloved and native Newfoundland, was born in St. John's on January 15th 1932. She grew up in St. John's with a tight circle of friends – The Spooks (Drick, Louise Doyle (Goog), Pat Kennedy (Pats), Agatha King (Kingy) and Marie Brennan (Brenny)) who were life long friends. Stricken with Tuberculosis shortly after graduation from High School, Pat spent close to 18 months overcoming the disease.

While working as a stenographer with the Department of Fisheries (in what was still the Dominion of Newfoundland) she met her future husband Wallace (Wally or Bud) Dexter McDougall. They were married on September 23rd 1959 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Halifax, en route from St. John’s to Ottawa to start their married life together. Pat and Wally lived in Ottawa for the next 17 years until they returned to the Maritimes in 1976 with their 5 children in tow. She and Wally spent the rest of her life living in Clayton Park and their summers without fail in Main-a-Dieu, Cape Breton. The focus of her life was her family, raising the children and enjoying the pleasure of the company of their six grandchildren.

Happy that she is now resting in peace and left with fond and loving memories are her husband, Wally; children, Ann Marie (Steven Simmons) of Dartmouth; Dan (Marie MacPhee) of Truro; Robert of Montreal; Rosalie (Cherrie Abraham) of Portland, OR, USA; and John of West Pennant. She was predeceased by her brother, Dr. Robert Francis O' Driscoll of Grand Falls-Windsor, NL. She will be missed by her six grandchildren: Cleary, Phoebe, Lena, Ella, Jonah & Sacha. Lastly, she was fortunate to have many good friends including Ruth Ward, dear family and friends in Main-a-Dieu and Newfoundland, and neighbours on Briarwood Crescent.

Constantly, and without ever seeking recognition, Pat's selfless devotion to her family and to her community were the hallmarks of her life. Family always came first and we all benefitted from her caring and seemingly endless energy making our home in Clayton Part the anchor that kept us close. Pat also served her community in a very meaningful way. As a devout member of the parishes of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Saint Benedict Catholic Church and as a faithful member of the Catholic Women’s League she gave to her fellow parishioners and to others less fortunate. Her commitment to the church community seen through her work as Secretary at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, President of the Catholic Women’s League, contributions to Church Socials, providing meals for Hope Cottage, the Social Justice Committee and other worthy causes. Her selfless nature and dedication to the wellbeing of others was inspiring. Pat truly made the world a better place.

Visitation and a celebration of her life will take place on Thursday, July 21st at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr. Halifax from 2-4 until 6-8 pm. A funeral service will be held at Saint Benedict Roman Catholic Church on Friday, July 22nd at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice, the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Society, or a gesture to someone less fortunate.