Pat Gunn was larger than life and she lived her life to the fullest despite a long battle with bladder cancer. She finally lost that battle on Monday, April 5 in New Bern, North Carolina, in her 80th year. She was predeceased by her parents Olive and Norman and her "Dearest Person" - James (Jim) H. Gunn.
She will be missed by her family in the UK, brother David and wife Brenda, their family Jeremy (Ginny) Anne (Steve) and their children Liz, Rob, Theodore, and David Blue; her Canadian family Rob (Frances), Doug (Linda) Janet (Stephen) and her grandchildren Stewart, Amelia, Emma and Sam, her goddaughter Carolyn and her New Bern family Phyllis, Gary, Kevin, Keith, Joyce, Jim C, Terry, Roy, Donna, Ruth, Ty, Wendy ,Ed, Nancy and Jim B. as well as a wealth of friends that span the globe especially Don, Mary, Frances, Lorne, John, Lynn, Betty and Ron.
Pat was born in Lancashire, England and obtained her medical degree as a specialist in anesthesia at the University of Liverpool. She immigrated to Calgary in 1956. Pat was an avid driver and counted a Porsche as one of her prize possessions. Through this she met Jim, the love of her life, when he was organizing a cross-Canada car rally. Pat moved to Toronto and married Jim in 1967. She was a staff anesthesiologist at Women's College Hospital for many years before they moved to New Bern, NC, in 1982. Pat continued her medical career and Jim became immersed in the local history. They were inveterate travelers, literally cruising around the world, and made lifelong friends wherever they went. Pat retired in 1994 but her partnership with Jim was cut short when he passed away in 1996.
Undaunted, Pat continued her travels, driving tens of thousands of miles to visit friends, including one heroic trip from coast to coast in 2005 at the age of 75. She made a point of returning to Canada every year to visit family and friends and escape the North Carolina heat. Her trips always included visits to the Stratford and Shaw Theatre Festivals and cottage country where she enjoyed many good times with friends.
Pat devoured books and maintained a lifelong interest in current events. She enjoyed nothing more than a rousing debate on the controversy of the day, all the while indulging in her passion for a good meal and fine glass of zinfandel. She was an avid supporter of National Public Radio, the Scottish Heritage Society and the English Speaking Union.
Please lift a glass in her memory.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 9th at 11am at Christ Church in New Bern. A celebration of her life will also be held this summer in Toronto.
Memorial donations to Coastal Women's Shelter PO Box 13081 New Bern, NC 28561, Public Radio East Barker Hall/CCC 800 College Ct. New Bern, NC 28562. Cor The James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation of Toronto (Applewood) in lieu of flowers to would be appreciated.
PAT GUNN by Pat's brother, David Grundy
Early thoughts on Pat from her brother, David:
She was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, in September 1930 to parents who were very forward-thinking considering the époque.
In March 1933 Pat was joined by her ‘kid brother', David. At the beginning of the war, we were both nearly evacuated to our Mother's elder sister, Aunty Eva, who lived in Montreal, Canada. However, a ship that was due to sail just prior to our departure was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, causing the death of most of the evacuees on board; all sailing stopped!
Our Father volunteered for the Marine Section of the RAF in 1941, and ended up servicing Sunderland Flying Boats for the RAF Coastal Command at Oban on the West Coast of Scotland. This left our Mother, Olive, to run the tobacco merchant business, which he had left in Blackpool, whilst also driving ambulances in the' black-outs', and looking after two young children. In this, she was aided by an old housekeeper, Bertha, with whom Pat and I carried out our own personal war!
After the war, I have memories of summer holidays with Pat – then a sporty and fit, blossoming 15 year old girl – at Brigham Farm in Keswick in the Lake District. We also enjoyed some great youth-hostelling holidays on the Lancashire Moors and the Lake District fells. One strong memory is of us both standing on the summit of Great Gable after a very hard climb; this is a classic peak in the Lake District which we reached by 11 o'clock in the morning – she really was a fit young lady!
We had the usual sibling rivalry until Pat went off to read Medicine at Liverpool University and I entered the Sixth Form at school. At this stage, although we did not see each other on a daily basis – and maybe because of this – there developed the close adult relationship we have maintained ever since.
Pat was always a generous and supportive Aunt to our children – Anne and Jerry. Anne spent 6 months between school and university with Pat and Jim in Toronto, which was a marvellous experience for her. When Jerry spent a gap year at the Peddie School near Princeton, Pat and Jim visited him there and took him out for many-a fine meal.
The rest is history: Pat was truly a warm-hearted and feisty lady, who will always remain dear to Brenda and myself; a lasting impression of open-mindedness and joie de vivre to Anne and Jerry and their children
She will be missed by her family in the UK, brother David and wife Brenda, their family Jeremy (Ginny) Anne (Steve) and their children Liz, Rob, Theodore, and David Blue; her Canadian family Rob (Frances), Doug (Linda) Janet (Stephen) and her grandchildren Stewart, Amelia, Emma and Sam, her goddaughter Carolyn and her New Bern family Phyllis, Gary, Kevin, Keith, Joyce, Jim C, Terry, Roy, Donna, Ruth, Ty, Wendy ,Ed, Nancy and Jim B. as well as a wealth of friends that span the globe especially Don, Mary, Frances, Lorne, John, Lynn, Betty and Ron.
Pat was born in Lancashire, England and obtained her medical degree as a specialist in anesthesia at the University of Liverpool. She immigrated to Calgary in 1956. Pat was an avid driver and counted a Porsche as one of her prize possessions. Through this she met Jim, the love of her life, when he was organizing a cross-Canada car rally. Pat moved to Toronto and married Jim in 1967. She was a staff anesthesiologist at Women's College Hospital for many years before they moved to New Bern, NC, in 1982. Pat continued her medical career and Jim became immersed in the local history. They were inveterate travelers, literally cruising around the world, and made lifelong friends wherever they went. Pat retired in 1994 but her partnership with Jim was cut short when he passed away in 1996.
Undaunted, Pat continued her travels, driving tens of thousands of miles to visit friends, including one heroic trip from coast to coast in 2005 at the age of 75. She made a point of returning to Canada every year to visit family and friends and escape the North Carolina heat. Her trips always included visits to the Stratford and Shaw Theatre Festivals and cottage country where she enjoyed many good times with friends.
Pat devoured books and maintained a lifelong interest in current events. She enjoyed nothing more than a rousing debate on the controversy of the day, all the while indulging in her passion for a good meal and fine glass of zinfandel. She was an avid supporter of National Public Radio, the Scottish Heritage Society and the English Speaking Union.
Please lift a glass in her memory.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 9th at 11am at Christ Church in New Bern. A celebration of her life will also be held this summer in Toronto.
Memorial donations to Coastal Women's Shelter PO Box 13081 New Bern, NC 28561, Public Radio East Barker Hall/CCC 800 College Ct. New Bern, NC 28562. Cor The James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation of Toronto (Applewood) in lieu of flowers to would be appreciated.
PAT GUNN by Pat's brother, David Grundy
Early thoughts on Pat from her brother, David:
She was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, in September 1930 to parents who were very forward-thinking considering the époque.
In March 1933 Pat was joined by her ‘kid brother', David. At the beginning of the war, we were both nearly evacuated to our Mother's elder sister, Aunty Eva, who lived in Montreal, Canada. However, a ship that was due to sail just prior to our departure was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, causing the death of most of the evacuees on board; all sailing stopped!
Our Father volunteered for the Marine Section of the RAF in 1941, and ended up servicing Sunderland Flying Boats for the RAF Coastal Command at Oban on the West Coast of Scotland. This left our Mother, Olive, to run the tobacco merchant business, which he had left in Blackpool, whilst also driving ambulances in the' black-outs', and looking after two young children. In this, she was aided by an old housekeeper, Bertha, with whom Pat and I carried out our own personal war!
After the war, I have memories of summer holidays with Pat – then a sporty and fit, blossoming 15 year old girl – at Brigham Farm in Keswick in the Lake District. We also enjoyed some great youth-hostelling holidays on the Lancashire Moors and the Lake District fells. One strong memory is of us both standing on the summit of Great Gable after a very hard climb; this is a classic peak in the Lake District which we reached by 11 o'clock in the morning – she really was a fit young lady!
We had the usual sibling rivalry until Pat went off to read Medicine at Liverpool University and I entered the Sixth Form at school. At this stage, although we did not see each other on a daily basis – and maybe because of this – there developed the close adult relationship we have maintained ever since.
Pat was always a generous and supportive Aunt to our children – Anne and Jerry. Anne spent 6 months between school and university with Pat and Jim in Toronto, which was a marvellous experience for her. When Jerry spent a gap year at the Peddie School near Princeton, Pat and Jim visited him there and took him out for many-a fine meal.
The rest is history: Pat was truly a warm-hearted and feisty lady, who will always remain dear to Brenda and myself; a lasting impression of open-mindedness and joie de vivre to Anne and Jerry and their children
Pat Gunn was larger than life and she lived her life to the fullest despite a long battle with bladder cancer. She finally lost that battle on Monday, April 5 in New Bern, North Carolina, in her 80th year. She was predeceased by her parents Olive and Norman and her "Dearest Person" - James (Jim) H. Gunn.
She will be missed by her family in the UK, brother David and wife Brenda, their family Jeremy (Ginny) Anne (Steve) and their children Liz, Rob, Theodore, and David Blue; her Canadian family Rob (Frances), Doug (Linda) Janet (Stephen) and her grandchildren Stewart, Amelia, Emma and Sam, her goddaughter Carolyn and her New Bern family Phyllis, Gary, Kevin, Keith, Joyce, Jim C, Terry, Roy, Donna, Ruth, Ty, Wendy ,Ed, Nancy and Jim B. as well as a wealth of friends that span the globe especially Don, Mary, Frances, Lorne, John, Lynn, Betty and Ron.
Pat was born in Lancashire, England and obtained her medical degree as a specialist in anesthesia at the University of Liverpool. She immigrated to Calgary in 1956. Pat was an avid driver and counted a Porsche as one of her prize possessions. Through this she met Jim, the love of her life, when he was organizing a cross-Canada car rally. Pat moved to Toronto and married Jim in 1967. She was a staff anesthesiologist at Women's College Hospital for many years before they moved to New Bern, NC, in 1982. Pat continued her medical career and Jim became immersed in the local history. They were inveterate travelers, literally cruising around the world, and made lifelong friends wherever they went. Pat retired in 1994 but her partnership with Jim was cut short when he passed away in 1996.
Undaunted, Pat continued her travels, driving tens of thousands of miles to visit friends, including one heroic trip from coast to coast in 2005 at the age of 75. She made a point of returning to Canada every year to visit family and friends and escape the North Carolina heat. Her trips always included visits to the Stratford and Shaw Theatre Festivals and cottage country where she enjoyed many good times with friends.
Pat devoured books and maintained a lifelong interest in current events. She enjoyed nothing more than a rousing debate on the controversy of the day, all the while indulging in her passion for a good meal and fine glass of zinfandel. She was an avid supporter of National Public Radio, the Scottish Heritage Society and the English Speaking Union.
Please lift a glass in her memory.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 9th at 11am at Christ Church in New Bern. A celebration of her life will also be held this summer in Toronto.
Memorial donations to Coastal Women's Shelter PO Box 13081 New Bern, NC 28561, Public Radio East Barker Hall/CCC 800 College Ct. New Bern, NC 28562. Cor The James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation of Toronto (Applewood) in lieu of flowers to would be appreciated.
PAT GUNN by Pat's brother, David Grundy
Early thoughts on Pat from her brother, David:
She was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, in September 1930 to parents who were very forward-thinking considering the époque.
In March 1933 Pat was joined by her ‘kid brother', David. At the beginning of the war, we were both nearly evacuated to our Mother's elder sister, Aunty Eva, who lived in Montreal, Canada. However, a ship that was due to sail just prior to our departure was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, causing the death of most of the evacuees on board; all sailing stopped!
Our Father volunteered for the Marine Section of the RAF in 1941, and ended up servicing Sunderland Flying Boats for the RAF Coastal Command at Oban on the West Coast of Scotland. This left our Mother, Olive, to run the tobacco merchant business, which he had left in Blackpool, whilst also driving ambulances in the' black-outs', and looking after two young children. In this, she was aided by an old housekeeper, Bertha, with whom Pat and I carried out our own personal war!
After the war, I have memories of summer holidays with Pat – then a sporty and fit, blossoming 15 year old girl – at Brigham Farm in Keswick in the Lake District. We also enjoyed some great youth-hostelling holidays on the Lancashire Moors and the Lake District fells. One strong memory is of us both standing on the summit of Great Gable after a very hard climb; this is a classic peak in the Lake District which we reached by 11 o'clock in the morning – she really was a fit young lady!
We had the usual sibling rivalry until Pat went off to read Medicine at Liverpool University and I entered the Sixth Form at school. At this stage, although we did not see each other on a daily basis – and maybe because of this – there developed the close adult relationship we have maintained ever since.
Pat was always a generous and supportive Aunt to our children – Anne and Jerry. Anne spent 6 months between school and university with Pat and Jim in Toronto, which was a marvellous experience for her. When Jerry spent a gap year at the Peddie School near Princeton, Pat and Jim visited him there and took him out for many-a fine meal.
The rest is history: Pat was truly a warm-hearted and feisty lady, who will always remain dear to Brenda and myself; a lasting impression of open-mindedness and joie de vivre to Anne and Jerry and their children
She will be missed by her family in the UK, brother David and wife Brenda, their family Jeremy (Ginny) Anne (Steve) and their children Liz, Rob, Theodore, and David Blue; her Canadian family Rob (Frances), Doug (Linda) Janet (Stephen) and her grandchildren Stewart, Amelia, Emma and Sam, her goddaughter Carolyn and her New Bern family Phyllis, Gary, Kevin, Keith, Joyce, Jim C, Terry, Roy, Donna, Ruth, Ty, Wendy ,Ed, Nancy and Jim B. as well as a wealth of friends that span the globe especially Don, Mary, Frances, Lorne, John, Lynn, Betty and Ron.
Pat was born in Lancashire, England and obtained her medical degree as a specialist in anesthesia at the University of Liverpool. She immigrated to Calgary in 1956. Pat was an avid driver and counted a Porsche as one of her prize possessions. Through this she met Jim, the love of her life, when he was organizing a cross-Canada car rally. Pat moved to Toronto and married Jim in 1967. She was a staff anesthesiologist at Women's College Hospital for many years before they moved to New Bern, NC, in 1982. Pat continued her medical career and Jim became immersed in the local history. They were inveterate travelers, literally cruising around the world, and made lifelong friends wherever they went. Pat retired in 1994 but her partnership with Jim was cut short when he passed away in 1996.
Undaunted, Pat continued her travels, driving tens of thousands of miles to visit friends, including one heroic trip from coast to coast in 2005 at the age of 75. She made a point of returning to Canada every year to visit family and friends and escape the North Carolina heat. Her trips always included visits to the Stratford and Shaw Theatre Festivals and cottage country where she enjoyed many good times with friends.
Pat devoured books and maintained a lifelong interest in current events. She enjoyed nothing more than a rousing debate on the controversy of the day, all the while indulging in her passion for a good meal and fine glass of zinfandel. She was an avid supporter of National Public Radio, the Scottish Heritage Society and the English Speaking Union.
Please lift a glass in her memory.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 9th at 11am at Christ Church in New Bern. A celebration of her life will also be held this summer in Toronto.
Memorial donations to Coastal Women's Shelter PO Box 13081 New Bern, NC 28561, Public Radio East Barker Hall/CCC 800 College Ct. New Bern, NC 28562. Cor The James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation of Toronto (Applewood) in lieu of flowers to would be appreciated.
PAT GUNN by Pat's brother, David Grundy
Early thoughts on Pat from her brother, David:
She was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, in September 1930 to parents who were very forward-thinking considering the époque.
In March 1933 Pat was joined by her ‘kid brother', David. At the beginning of the war, we were both nearly evacuated to our Mother's elder sister, Aunty Eva, who lived in Montreal, Canada. However, a ship that was due to sail just prior to our departure was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, causing the death of most of the evacuees on board; all sailing stopped!
Our Father volunteered for the Marine Section of the RAF in 1941, and ended up servicing Sunderland Flying Boats for the RAF Coastal Command at Oban on the West Coast of Scotland. This left our Mother, Olive, to run the tobacco merchant business, which he had left in Blackpool, whilst also driving ambulances in the' black-outs', and looking after two young children. In this, she was aided by an old housekeeper, Bertha, with whom Pat and I carried out our own personal war!
After the war, I have memories of summer holidays with Pat – then a sporty and fit, blossoming 15 year old girl – at Brigham Farm in Keswick in the Lake District. We also enjoyed some great youth-hostelling holidays on the Lancashire Moors and the Lake District fells. One strong memory is of us both standing on the summit of Great Gable after a very hard climb; this is a classic peak in the Lake District which we reached by 11 o'clock in the morning – she really was a fit young lady!
We had the usual sibling rivalry until Pat went off to read Medicine at Liverpool University and I entered the Sixth Form at school. At this stage, although we did not see each other on a daily basis – and maybe because of this – there developed the close adult relationship we have maintained ever since.
Pat was always a generous and supportive Aunt to our children – Anne and Jerry. Anne spent 6 months between school and university with Pat and Jim in Toronto, which was a marvellous experience for her. When Jerry spent a gap year at the Peddie School near Princeton, Pat and Jim visited him there and took him out for many-a fine meal.
The rest is history: Pat was truly a warm-hearted and feisty lady, who will always remain dear to Brenda and myself; a lasting impression of open-mindedness and joie de vivre to Anne and Jerry and their children
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