Patricia Rose
Barbara Patricia (Pat) Rose (Britnell), passed away in Victoria, BC on March 13, 2024 at the age of 96 years. Formerly of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Predeceased by husbands Graham Rose and Leslie Hilton. Survived by sons Douglas (Lorene), James (Darlene) and Richard (Brenda) Hilton. Grandmother to Catharine Rudolph (Kevin), Brooke Hilton (James), Dana Allison (Lindsay) and Garrett Hilton (Josie), step-grandmother to Kamara (Sam) and Leandra (Ryan) Gupta. And great-grandmother to Blake Komenda and Eleanor Hilton and step-great-grandmother to Beckett and Coulter Deacon. Predeceased by brother, Stanley Britnell (Margaret). Cherished in Victoria by her family-by-affection, Margo Matwychuk, and long-term friends, Glenn and Linda Church and their daughters, Jessica and Miranda. She shared a special relationship with her niece Gwen. Lovingly remembered by many relatives and friends around the world.
Pat was always eager to try something new. While raising 3 sons and working full-time in Winnipeg she went back to school to earn a college certificate in accounting. In her 50’s she set out to fulfill her own mother’s dream of reaching the west coast and moved to Victoria. Pat, then, truly spread her wings in the pursuit of new adventures: traveling the world (living in England), remarrying, dabbling in amateur theatre, learning to be a peer counsellor and tutoring international ESL students. In her later years being confined to a wheelchair hardly slowed her down. Pat continued to develop her talent for watercolour painting and on several occasions even managed to explore Victoria’s inner harbour in an open sail boat.
Family and close friends’ responses to, “How would you describe Pat?”, included: “strong, kind, non-judgmental”, “tenacious, willing to do anything”, “loved to laugh – a smile and and little chuckle, loved puzzles and cards”, “caught all the curve-balls life threw at her and never complained, loved to dress in vibrant colours”, “a crossword puzzle wizard, steadfastly independent, loved a good time, loved to travel and explore, always open to new experiences“, “strong character, independent, knew who she was and what she needed, enjoyed life, loved having adventures”, “intelligent, like a sponge of factual stats, a plethora of worldly knowledge, loved watching masters golf”, “always ready to me greet with a smile”, “resilient, adventurous, gutsy, ready to give anything a try, smart, the unsinkable Molly Brown”, “easy to talk to, open, non-judgmental, a role model of a strong, independent, intelligent woman”.
In Pat’s own words, “Hope everyone has had as much fun and adventure in their lives as I have.”