Patricia Anne (Pat) Pope passed away on Friday, December 18th, in the palliative care unit of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.  She was 59.

Pat lived a wonderful life.  She was born in 1950 to Con and Maxine Keohane and spent her younger years moving around the country as her father moved with the RCMP.  It was in those early years that she developed her love of art and music that carried on through her whole life.  When she was a teenager, she, her parents and younger brother Mike settled in Unity, Saskatchewan where she lived until she went to university in Montreal.

Pat was blessed to have found her soul-mate, Bill, at a young age.  After an unfruitful first date while they were both at McGill, serendipity struck when they met again three years later at UBC.  Less than two months after that second meeting, they announced their marriage plans and spent the next 37 years growing, living, working, and loving together. 

Pat was an amazing woman, a patient and tolerant wife, and a loving mother.   She will be greatly missed by Bill, and by their three children, Shannon, Sean & Laura.  She made sure everyone in her family always knew how much they were loved, and she was unconditionally supportive of the decisions they made, as long as she knew they were happy.  Pat was very much looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild, but passed away just before the expected birth.

Bill and Pat spent most of their life together in Dawson Creek, B.C., where they raised their three children.  After raising their children in Dawson Creek, Pat and Bill finally escaped to their “Gulf Islands dream” on Gabriola, almost five years ago.  Bill and Pat fell in love with the island and its people immediately, and couldn’t have been surrounded by a better group of people (both before and during Pat’s short illness).

On Gabriola, Pat enjoyed singing in the Gabriola Chamber Ensemble and other choirs.  She and Bill loved exploring Gabriola and neighbouring islands.  During the last couple of years, because of Pat’s difficulty walking, most of that exploring was done from the front seat of their VW Van (“Mae Westie” the Westfalia), driving around the island, looking at the ocean and the many other beautiful scenes Gabriola offers.  Pat and Bill would often find themselves simply sitting and staring out across the water at Berry Point, sharing the peace of their dreams and their life with one another.  Their love for each other was evident through everything they did, even until Pat’s last days.

Bill and the rest of Pat’s family sincerely appreciate and thank the many wonderful people who have supported them through Pat’s brief but valiant journey with cancer.  They have been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people, who have offered so much to them, including meals, baked goods, DVDs, books, flowers, plants, and other gifts, and who have also selflessly offered their time.  Most of all, Gabriola friends have brought more compassion and love, to a life that was lived in compassion and love.

Pat was predeceased by her father (Cornelius ("Con") Keohane) and her mother (Maxine Koehane). She is survived by her husband, Bill; her children (Shannon Whitmore, Sean and Laura); and her brother (Mike Keohane).

Expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Gabriola Commons Foundation, Gabriola Chamber Ensemble, or Gabriola Health Care Foundation. The Gabriola Commons Foundation is a community organization dedicated to providing helpful resources to all residents of Gabriola; Pat was a soprano in the Gabriola Chamber Ensemble. The Gabriola Health Care Foundation is working to create a permanent health care facility on Gabriola Island.