December 24 1942 – May 7 2021
Pat died peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. He will be missed “muchly” by all who knew him.
He is predeceased by his parents Owen and Josie, and brother Owenie. Pat is survived by his wife Katherine; children Mary (Steve), Debi (Jeff), Jennie, Joe (Flavia), Sarah (Ric) and Maggie (Blake); grandchildren Chloe, Sam, Jones, Keanan, Finn, Ennio, Brando, Ben, Cole and a granddaughter due any day; as well as his remaining 7 brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins in Canada, Ireland, England and the United States.
A funeral date will be announced once Covid restrictions loosen, so that all of his family and friends can attend. In lieu of flowers please send donations to two charities that were close to Pat’s heart – The Door Is Open (https://www.thedoorisopen.ca) or Covenant House (https://www.covenanthousebc.org).
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Pat was born in Ireland in Kilmallock, County Limerick, the second oldest of 9 kids of Owen and Josie Coll. In 1957, 15 year old Pat immigrated to Canada with his family. Before they left, their picture appeared in the Irish paper, “The Sunday Express”, with the headline “Dev’s Ten Relatives Are Off”, as they were cousins of the 3rd Irish President (and 2nd Taoiseach) Eamonn De Valera. The secondary headline read “We’re going for the sake of the children.” And so they did.
Upon landing in his new country, Pat completed his studies and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School, with the honor of being both a math whiz and track star. He then pursued a career in shipping for many years, until he found the career he loved, Real Estate.
Pat met and fell in love with his American sweetheart, Katherine, and in 1966, they married. They settled down in Vancouver and started their family, which eventually grew to a respectable 6 children. At bedtime, he would regal the kids with stories of his adventurous youth in Ireland: being chased by a bull in an apple orchard and eating lard sandwiches for lunch were two of their favorites.
Life with Pat was an adventure. He and Kathie splurged on a backyard swimming pool that provided hours of laughter and sunburns, and a lifetime of memories. With Kathie in the passenger seat and the kids in the back of the car, Pat drove the family to summer adventures at the cabin, campgrounds and Disneyland. Picture the famous Norman Rockwell painting of a family in an overpacked station wagon, and you get the idea of what the bungy-cord-wrapped, tarp-covered, pre-Thule top of the Coll station wagon looked like on trips. They eventually upgraded to a minivan and tent trailer, but the look was still the same.
Pat enjoyed getting his hands in the dirt and growing his food in the spring and summer. He loved to grow and eat his own potatoes and lettuce, and he made the best stewed rhubarb this side of the Atlantic. He would carry a salt shaker in his pocket to test the ripeness of his tomatoes in real time. And the apple tree in their backyard is legendary.
Pat loved music of any type and his children fondly remember watching their parents dancing the night away on any dance floor they found themselves on. Pat enjoyed playing cards with his family and did so up until the last month or so. He also would love his Friday night poker game with his buddies. We like to imagine he will be re-joining some of them for a heavenly card game or two.
Pat and Kathie travelled a lot, with cruising being their preferred mode of transportation. He and Kathie actually did the majority of their world travel after he suffered a stroke at the young age of 52. He and Kathie loved their visits to the casino and playing the slot machines, both across the border and the ones closer to home. They also regularly supporting local theater, enjoying a night out with their friends for dinner and a play up until recently.
When he wasn’t traveling, gambling or watching theater, Pat could be found setting up the PVR to record all of his shows for the week, especially his beloved Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Pat loved most sports, especially the NFL and CFL, Sunday football was a sacred time for him, especially when it involved joining and eventually running the seasonal football pools.
Most days, you would find Pat spending time with his family and friends. He loved his children, and really really loved his grandchildren. Pat’s giggly laugh would bring a smile to your face, especially when he threw his head back and laughed silently. Pat’s Irish eyes would smile every time he did, and it was infectious.
Pat’s dedication to his faith was evident in his 50+ years as a parishioner of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. He was also a member and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 4615, and a member of the 4th Degree. Pat lived with a belief that that there was always a purpose to it all, but without a need to have to always know what that purpose was. He just trusted. In preparation for what was to come next, Pat had a fascination for the hierarchy of the angels in heaven.
Inspired in part by Pat’s life, all of his children have embarked on educational journeys, career paths and travels that have enriched our lives with music, laughter, story and meaning.
We are eternally grateful to the generous health care workers, care aids, Palliative nurses and OTs, hospice nurses, and many doctors who supported Pat and his family in his last wishes to die at home. It was very peaceful and gentle transition, and a most powerful last act as a father in the continued growth and cohesiveness of his family.
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