GURNEY, Patricia

September 7, 1946 — December 2, 2020

On Dec. 2, 2020, we lost our beloved Patricia (aka Patsy, G-MA, Grandma, Teesh,) Gurney to cancer. Pat was born in Birmingham, England on September 7, 1946.

Family and friends knew Pat as the dearest, kindest, most generous soul. She was a quiet stabilizer for her family – working hard to keep everyone connected and always there to offer a comforting word or the simplest, yet most sage advice – but only when truly needed.

Pat gifted to her children an incredible work ethic and the spirit of adventure. She and Pete left the U.K. to start a new life in Canada in the mid 70s and went back and forth between the continents to be closer to family and find work as the economy shifted. They eventually ended up in Alberta. First in Edmonton, then Sherwood Park, and back to Edmonton before moving on to Banff in 2004. She and Pete had just set up in a new home in Kelowna, B.C. in August of this year.

Wherever she landed, Pat found joy in small things: spending time with her grandchildren; reading; watching the wildlife from her kitchen in Banff, where she and husband Pete resided for more than 15 years; or soaking in the sunlight from her new deck that overlooked the Okanagan valley, where they had settled to enjoy a warmer climate and more time with their son and his family.

Patsy loved to travel – to any island destination, really, but mostly home to the U.K., where she could connect with her lifelong bestie, Anthea, and spend time with her siblings, nieces and nephews. She and Pete also loved to spend time in Phoenix, Arizona, where they enjoyed the heat and roadtrips that let them savour new scenery and suss out the best places to stop for pie.

Whether travelling or from the comfort of home, Patsy loved to keep in touch with dear friends and relatives over email or simply to watch their updates on social media. She was big on the “like” button.

She was the first to burst out laughing – especially if she had done something she thought was silly, or if she was horsing around with her grandkids or sister Helen.

She loved nothing more than knitting gifts for everyone she loved – from Harry Potter dolls to Irish aran sweaters to comforting blankets, all were created and given with joy.

Patsy was a very hard worker and, before her fingers took on needles and wool, a remarkably fast typist. She even won a smoking fingers competition back in the day. She was employed for 20 years as a Methods Analyst with the City of Edmonton prior to wrapping up her career with the IT team at the Banff Centre.

Since her passing, our family has been overwhelmed by expressions of love for her. We are not surprised, yet we are grateful that she touched so many with her kind and gentle nature. She leaves to grieve her loving husband, Peter Gurney; her son Jim (Vickie) and daughter Leigh (Robin); three very precious grandchildren – McAley (Zac), Piper (Curtis) and Finn; her brother Michael (Jackie) and sister, Helen (Trevor); her aunts and uncles in Australia and Ireland; and her beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Catherine and Patrick O’Shea, and dear brother, Francis.

If it’s true that food is best made with love, Yorkshire Pudding will never be the same for us. Or Sunday dinners, or Scotch Eggs on Christmas morning. She has left us wanting nothing but more time to spend with her.

During these strange times of pandemic, there will be no formal funeral service. We hope you will honor her memory with a nice cup of tea (just simple Yorkshire Tea) and some time to reflect on your fondest memories of her. Those who wish, may contribute to Shriners Hospitals for Children, or a charity of choice in tribute.