On Thursday, October 29, Jerry Patrick ”held the wheel of his latest beloved earthly vehicle” as he drove away pain free, all dressed up, ready and in peace, assisted by the vital gift of MAiD. CT scans had discovered terminal, rapidly expanding right pelvis sarcoma.
His final week was an incredible gift of full care, compassion, and support of the staff at the Overlander Trinity Hospice, for both Jerry and his wife Wendy.
Jerry had a happy childhood in Dawson Creek, in school and often outdoors. Early on he discovered his lifelong love of vehicles, driving a heavy construction truck for the construction of the Alaska Highway. He moved on his own to Victoria on his own after high school, attending Victoria College before moving to Vancouver and UBC. He graduated with a Masters in Arts and Administration.
He married his wife Wendy (nee Bennett) on July 4, 1964 and lived in North Vancouver with son Greg and daughter Kelly. The family enjoyed years of camping, first in an old BCTel truck Jerry converted himself. The truck served the family well in a camping trip across Canada to Newfoundland and back, but was soon retired to be replaced by of a series of comparatively luxurious 70’s Volkswagen Westfalia vans.
In 1974, the family moved to Kamloops for Jerry’s new career as the Art Coordinator for the Kamloops School District. He later transitioned to teaching, mainly in elementary schools, before moving into administration in Vice Principal and ultimately Principal positions. He was the Principal of Westsyde Elementary, Pineridge Elementary, and finally Dufferin Elementary, where he ended his career – after never taking a single sick day! He was known by staff and students alike as hard-working, kind, creative, and approachable.
In 1980 he and Wendy bought their little “Heffley Cabin Retreat”, and with Wendy being a teacher as well, many long summers with the kids and cold winter weekends skiing at Tod Mountain were enjoyed in the little wood-heated cabin. After his retirement in 1994, Jerry loved spending time at the cabin, building a 2 bay garage/workshop, and working on endless projects for the cabin and property, including adding water, septic, kitchen and bathroom, hand-cut siding, a dock, gazebo, and much more. The cabin is still in the family, enjoyed greatly by his son Greg and his daughters (and possibly even more so by his dogs).
Jerry is survived by wife Wendy, son Greg and his daughters Samantha and Erica, sister Marion, and Marion’s daughters Wendy, Susan, and Shelley and their families.
Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com