Obituary of Patricia Pretty

Patricia Jean (Ferguson) Pretty 14 Dec.,1942 to 5 Nov., 2012 Patricia died at her home in Marchmont overlooking the millpond and the North River. For the past four decades Pat gardened there, raised daughter Sarah with the help of Roger, and indispensable Nana Hesselius, marked English papers for Park Street students for more than thirty years, kept each Christmas Eve with fifty or so friends and neighbours in her house, cooked annual Thanksgiving dinners for nieces and nephews, held innumerable meetings for the local NDP; provided hospitality to Tommy Douglas, Stephen Lewis, Michele Lansberg and many other notables. In her living room Patricia and seven friends also founded the Orillia based charity Paso Por Paso to help poor Maya families in Guatemala. Pat believed profoundly in social justice; she invested actively both time and material for many causes promoting equality for women, education for children, and fairness for working people. In every election from 1970 to 2010 Pat managed NDP offices in Orillia. She considered it the duty of all citizens to vote and be actively involved in political life. Pat bids adieu to her students, colleagues, neighbours, friends and family. The "Patricia-Jean Memorial Scholarship" will assist young Maya women of the Lake Atitlan area of Guatemala complete university and professional training. Donations to "Paso Por Paso" c/o Treas. David Rapson, 4223 Line 12 N, RR 2 Coldwater ON, L0K1E0, or to Simcoe North Prov. NDP. Observances are delayed until Patricia's new granddaughter (born November 4) and little Noa Alora Pretty Berman's parents are able to travel.