Patricia Joyce Charles
(June 16, 1937 - January 31, 2024)
It is with great sadness, the family of Pat Charles announce her sudden passing at the Red Deer hospital on January 31, 2024,
at the age of 86.
She leaves to mourn, her husband of 66 years,Allan Charles, daughters, Paula Jeske (Claus) and Janine Boldon (Phil), and son, Jaron Charles. Grandchildren, Brittney, Charley, Maryn, Darrell (Breanne) and Nick, and great grandchildren, Charlotte, Sverre and Mabel. She is survived by one sister, Ruby Slemp (Dick) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents Bill and Mary Quiring.
Pat was born in Coronation on June 16, 1937, and spent her childhood in Fleet, moving to Castor in 1957 where she married Allan and taught grade five elementary school.
After residing for a few years in Castor, they moved to Spirit River and then on to Barrhead where they settled into the community and raised their family.
Pat was active as the church organist and pianist for many years, playing for Sunday services, weddings and funerals at the United Church and participating as a pianist in community theatre. She taught as a substitute teacher, taught piano lessons and worked at Fyfes Drugstore.
There wasn’t anything Pat wouldn’t try. She loved downhill and cross country skiing, curling and swimming. She was artistically skilled at sewing, cross stitch, crewel, oil painting, water-colours, and painted beautiful decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs. Her garden was always bountiful with fresh vegetables and flowers, and a crock of sauerkraut was usually fermenting in the corner of the kitchen. She loved making buns and butterhorns, perogies and homemade soup, and roasting duck or goose that Allan brought home from the hunt. She was always up for a game of cards with neighbours and a music jam session with family.
Allan and Pat loved to see the world and their travels took them to over 30 countries including Latvia, China, Malaysia, Europe, Cuba, Greece,Turkey, Russia and Morocco to name a few.
Her greatest passion was her music, and she expressed that through her childhood Heintzman upright grand piano that was brought with them from Fleet. She had a wonderful sense of musicality and took up the violin and ukulele in her later years. Her last “bucket list” item was fulfilled recently with a music clef tattoo.
After selling their acreage at Barrhead in 1998, they moved to Red Deer to be closer to family.
Pat and Allan had resided in Deer Park in Red Deer and bonded with many great neighbours and friends until 2023, when they moved into community supportive living at Collegeside Gardens in Red Deer and began making new friends. She will be missed by many. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Family graveside service to be held at a later date.
