MARY PATRICIA BOYD

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MARY PATRICIA (PAT) BOYD Pat Boyd passed away on July 7, 2015 with family by her side, at the age of 98 years and 117 days. Pat was born on March 12, 1917 to Henry Stanley Bennett, a soldier in the Great War, and the English nurse who helped him regain his health, Fanny Louisa Goodger. Pat was born in Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan and grew up there and in neighbouring Assiniboia. She was named for the Princess Patricia's, her father's regiment. At the age of 14, Pat went to the Qu'Appelle Diocesan School for Girls in Regina to pursue her study of piano. While completing high school she earned her ATCM from the Toronto Royal Conservatory at the age of 16 and her LRSM Licentiate from the London College of Music when she was 18. In 1935, driven east by the drought, Pat moved with her family to Winnipeg, where her father became Sergeant-Major in the Corps of Commissionaires and Sergeant-at-Arms at the Manitoba Legislature. She taught piano lessons and became music instructor at the School for the Blind at the CNIB where in addition to teaching piano she created and conducted a prize-winning percussion band. It was there that she met her husband Jack Boyd. Their first date was the day the King and Queen came to Winnipeg in May 1939 and they were married on June 27, 1942. Their daughter, Marilyn Patricia, was born in 1944. Pat continued to teach piano for many years, including offering regular lessons for her great-grandson in recent years. Pat's faith in God was central to her life. She was a lifelong Anglican and an active member of St. Matthew's Anglican Church for 73 years. Pat was an accomplished pianist and accompanist. She began attending WSO concerts when she came to Winnipeg at 18 and was still attending at 98; her favourite composers were Mozart and Beethoven. She also enjoyed jazz and loved to play for sing-songs at the many parties she and Jack hosted for their friends in their home. Pat also enjoyed sports. In her youth, Pat played tennis and baseball. Later she was a loyal fan of the Jets, the Bombers and the Goldeyes, and was always ready to share and discuss details of their exploits. She loved to hear of the sporting pursuits of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was keen for play-by-play news of their good runs, great catches and big goals. Pat loved a good story. She told many and took an interest in the stories of others. She had many dear friends. For her the hardest part of growing old was losing those friends. She stayed actively engaged with life well into her 90s travelling regularly with her daughter to visit family. She was the surprise at her brother's 90th birthday party in Ottawa when she was 96, and made her last winter getaway to family in Vancouver just last year. Pat was predeceased by her husband, Jack Boyd, in 1991; her parents, Henry and Fanny Bennett and her brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Shirley Bennett. She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Boyd; her grandchildren, Anne-Marie (Robert) Chartrand, Joel (Laura) Wortley and Adrian (Kathleen) Wortley; and her nine great-grandchildren: Tyler, Bridget, Roxanne, Natasha, Kiera, Thea, Robert, Hillary and Quade. She is also survived by her nieces, nephews and their families and her son-in-law John Wortley. A memorial service is planned for mid-August, details to follow. If desired, donations in memory of Pat may be made to St. Matthew's Church, 641 St Matthews Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3G 0G6. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 11, 2015