Patricia Rose Heggie

Daughter of Warren and Gladys Smith, Pat was a younger sister to Margaret & Donald. Although born in Vancouver, she came to Victoria as a baby & never left. Other than being teased relentlessly by Don, she enjoyed a happy childhood. Through her teens, Pat learned many forms of dance, performing regularly with the Wynne Shaw Dancers. She graduated from Vic High in 1944, then joined Mutual Life in the old Times Building on Fort St. In 1946, on daily bus rides to work, she met John Heggie, whom she married in 1949. Colin was born in 1951, and Janice in 1954. Pat was a stay-at-home Mom till the mid-1960s, when she took a part-time job as receptionist for optometrist Dave Pepper. She was a consummate housewife – good cook, talented seamstress, decorator & hostess, always supporting John & her family.

As her parents & John’s mother Ann aged, she took an active role in their care. From 1957 to 1979 she & John lived in the Howroyd subdivision west of UVic; followed by 28 years in Metchosin, walking endlessly between Tower Point & Witty’s Lagoon; then 11 years at Falcon Ridge in Broadmead. In Sep 2018 they moved to Berwick Royal Oak.

For decades, there were annual vacations to Parksville, plus numerous trips in Canada, the USA and England. Pat enjoyed painting classes, her girlfriends at “The Y,” & many friends & neighbours over the years.

She could be seen walking outside around the Berwick neighbourhood daily, either with or without her companion Louise. Sometimes Louise would take her out shopping or for tea or lunch. Although Pat lost her short-term memory in 2014, she retained her sense of humour & always had a snappy retort.

Pat was predeceased by John in Jan 2019, daughter Janice (Lauren Miller) in 2015, sister Margaret (Fred Gray), brother Don (Myrtle) & brother-in-law Claud. She’s survived by her son Colin (Barbara Harris) in Vernon; Lauren Miller (Louise Fortier) in Victoria; sisters-in-law Myrtle Smith & Elizabeth Woodworth in Victoria; grandchildren Brant (Janice) Miller & Kirsten (Matt Parker) in Victoria, Ben (Kierra) Heggie in Kelowna & Kathleen Heggie in Vancouver; great grandchildren Miles, Gavin, Audrey & Gemma Parker, Westley, Hazel & James Miller, Oliver Heggie.

No service planned at present. Many thanks to the kind & caring staff in Berwick Royal Oak’s Brio Care Unit.