Obituary of REID – Patricia Joan

April 14, 1929 – February 5, 2010 Friends of Pat Reid are saddened by the loss of a woman who was as fiercely intelligent as she was resilient and as thoughtful as she was witty. Pat was an exceptional story-teller, a tribute to her seemingly unlimited breadth of knowledge fed by diverse interests that included theatre, literature, sports cars, the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Stampeders. Pat attended Central High School in Calgary and obtained a teacher’s certificate from the University of Alberta in 1950 as well as further education in drama at the University of British Columbia. Through a 35-year career as a teacher, Pat taught Drama and English Literature at Calgary elementary, junior and senior high schools, particularly Viscount Bennett and Dr. E.P. Scarlett High Schools. Pat’s passion for theatre left its mark on the Calgary arts scene as she was an actor and director with a number of theatre companies, including Workshop 14. Through her production of high school student theatre and her amateur theatre company involvement, Pat is responsible for inspiring many into careers in the performing arts. By the time Pat was in her 30s, her mother and only immediate family, Esther Reid, had passed away. Throughout Pat’s adult life, her close friends were her family and she was a loyal friend to many. Special friends included Betty and Gord Davis, Grant Reddick and Patricia Waite. Pat was pre-deceased by long-time friends Dorothy Joudrie, Jack Waite, Gordon Gibbs and Alan McLennan. In recent years, Pat’s steel-trap mind, distinctive theatre-trained voice and fascinating conversation were always evident, even as she faced setbacks like losing all of her belongings to the June 2005 floods and, more recently, failing health. Through this time, she often expressed her gratitude for neighbours, Sandra Bruner and Sean Beaumont, and Brian Mahoney. Most of all, Pat was unfailingly supported and loved by her godson, Sean Waite and his wife, Jessica Waite. Pat’s family was rounded out by restaurant Fleur de Sel in Mission where “Madame Pat” was a fixture, cared for by owner, Patrice Durandeau, and staff, Dale, Dan, Madame Ying, James and Rebecca and known by all of the regular patrons. The friends who made up Pat’s family will raise a glass in a toast to her life at Fleur de Sel Restaurant, 2015 – 4 Street S.W., on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 4:00 pm. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Patricia Reid, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.