Patricia Alice Whitbread (nee Thompson) of Borden, SK was born August 9, 1924 in Otter, BC. After public school, she attended Normal School to become a teacher. She taught at a small school at the Indian settlement of Wabasca, Alberta. She also worked as a “Van Girl” with Sunday School By Post, out of Peace River, having received her training at Wycliffe in Toronto. She worked for the Diocese of Saskatchewan, for Bishop Henry David Martin in Prince Albert, SK. During this time, she met her future husband, Rev. Donald Whitbread. Don eventually traveled north as a missionary in the Arctic, and they planned a wedding for the spring of 1957. When he was Med-Evac’ed to Yellowknife in the fall of ’56, she traveled to Yellowknife and married him there on Sept. 24, 1956. They used the furlough time for their honeymoon, and spent time with her family in BC and his family in the UK, before returning to take up ministry in Spence Bay, NWT in the summer of 1957. Their first child, Heather Ruth(d), was born that year; She was followed in 1959 by Henry David Martin, and Aven Elizabeth (1960), Robin Hugh Jonathan(d) (1962), Duncan Benjamin(d) (1964) and Dhugal Gideon (1966)

In 1965 they moved to take up ministry in Apex Hill, (Frobisher Bay/Iqaluit). From 1968 to 1970 they ministered in Broughton Island, building a church there during that time. They returned to Iqaluit in 1970 and were an integral part of the building of the original St. Jude’s Cathedral, with its iconic “Igloo” shape. 

While Pat was raising children, often with her husband away on missionary journeys, she created materials for teaching literacy. She collaborated to start a Kindergarten program in Apex, along with working with the women of the church on many projects. She was a Brownie and Guide leader, and upgraded her teaching credentials, and substitute-taught at Nakashuk School in Iqaluit. The family moved to Saskatchewan in 1974 and settled in North Battleford, where they began ministry to 7 different First Nations reserves in the area. In 1977, they moved to Rosthern, where Pat continued to help Don recover from a stroke suffered the previous year. By this time, Dhugal was the last child remaining at home. After Don’s death in 1978, Pat continued her theological training at Emmanuel & St. Chad in Saskatoon. She was the minister at the churches in Rosthern, Duck Lake and Wingard for several years. After Dhugal’s graduation from Rosthern High School, Pat began work with St. John’s School of Alberta, as a teacher and then as support staff. She retired to Borden in 1990, where she was able to be more actively involved in the lives her friends, children and grandchildren, and the Parish of St. John’s. Throughout her lifetime, she always enjoyed gardening, and sharing the produce. Pat was an avid reader and library patron, and was often spotted riding her bicycle or walking in town. She continued to support missions through her prayers and donations, writing regularly to those close to her.

She lived in her own home until her last hospitalization in March of this year. She died peacefully on August 2, 2016 around 5 pm. She was predeceased by her sister Katherine (in childhood), and siblings Margaret, Lyle, Alan and Jean in old age. She was also predeceased by her children Robin in 1963, Duncan in 1964, and Heather in 2015.

Left to mourn Patricia are: Martin (Janice) Whitbread; Melody (Paul) Kube: Abigail, Patrick, Robyn; Evangeline (Shawn) Rhode: Jacob; Dan (Dorothy) Whitbread: Jaydess, Ethan; Matt (Sarah) Whitbread: Alivia, Gavin, Theo
Aven (Tim) Paektau; James Paetkau; Steven (Melissa) Paetkau; David (Sara) Paetkau: Jace, Amber
Dhugal (Sara-Jane) Whitbread, George.

A Funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, North Battleford, SK at 4 pm, August 9th, 2016, interment to follow. A reception lunch will be held from the Centenial Hall and Tribute Centre, located on the north side of Sallows and McDonald-Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home, 1271 103rd Street, North Battleford. Memorial Donations may be made to the Canadian Bible Society, 10 Carnforth Rd. Toronto ON M4A 2S4, www.biblesociety.ca or to The St. Jude’s Anglican Cathedral Fund, c/o The Diocese of The Arctic, Box 190, Yellowknife, NWT X1A 2N2.

Arrangements in care of Sallows & McDonald-Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home, North Battleford, SK (306) 445-2418

 

• Date : 2016-08-02
• Location : Saskatoon, Saskatchewan