Sep 01, 2019

• STRATFORD, Pat

1923-2019

Pat Stratford was born in London, England in 1923 but grew up in Leicester. An only child, she spent glorious summers with cousins in Wisbech. At 19 the city girl joined the Women’s Land Army where she served for 2 ½ years, milking cows and tending crops while the young farm men were fighting at the front.

In 1945 she married a Royal Air Force officer, Ralph Stratford, and in 1952 immigrated with their two daughters, Susan and Sally to Ajax, Ontario. Pat’s beloved mum, Margaret, joined the family in Ajax and life was full of friends and volunteering. A home was built by Ralph in Whitby, and the young family moved there and along came Joy. In Whitby, Pat nurtured both her garden and her community.

Pat was a life-long learner taking courses in everything from French to hospice care, from millinery to ancient history. Family, learning, and community work were what mattered most to Pat. After Ralph’s retirement they traveled extensively to China, Greece, Haiti, the Galapagos, Ecuador and Europe.

Three years ago Pat and Ralph embarked on another adventure, this time moving to Almonte, Ontario (Orchard View), where they embraced the countryside. As with all their adventures, they enjoyed the surroundings and quickly made friends.

On Sept. 1^st , 2019 just shy of her 96^th   birthday, Pat passed peacefully away, surrounded by family. Married to Ralph for 74 years, Pat, was devoted to their ever-growing family: Susan Careless (Tone), Sally Hortop (Scott) and Joy Stratford (Bob Kurus). « Gran » was cherished by her twelve grandchildren: Jonathan, Jill, Philip, Anne, Gaëlle, Adam, Kate, Claire, Soteira, Alice, Hannah, and Colleen; and 18 great-grandchildren: Mateo, Simone, Sebastien, Matilde, Philip, Robin, Galileo, Eloise, Sylys, Sarah, George, William, Evan, Fintan, Jane, Charlie, Margot and Evryn. Pat also had a number of good dogs in her family.

She will be missed by her extended family, her neighbours on Fairview Drive, the Evening Guild, other member of All Saints, her regulars at Eaton’s, her friends at Whitby Seniors Centre and in her book clubs, as well as by the many new friends she made at Orchard View.

If you wish to celebrate Pat’s remarkable life, why not:

Visit new places * Drink some tea * Tend a garden * Play some Scrabble * Advocate for refugees * Savour some chocolate * Attend a ballet * Visit an art gallery * Swim the sidestroke * Give a dog a treat * Belong to a book club *Welcome strangers * Watch the evening news * Throw a birthday party * Sing in a choir * Shower the people you love with love.

Funeral service Saturday,September 28th, 2019 at 1pm, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church70 Clyde Street, Almonte, ON. Reception to follow at 2 pm at Orchard View Manor, 219 Paterson Street, Almonte, ON.