Obituary of Patricia Violet TUNSTALL (nee Kavanagh)

13 August 1926 – Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom

24 April 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Patricia Tunstall of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully at Foothills Hospital on 24 April 2021 at the age of 94 after a full and long life. 

Born on 13 August 1926 in Maidstone, Kent, England, to her parents Elizabeth Southey and Thomas Henry Patrick Kavanagh, Patricia went to live with her Auntie Vi in the North of England during WWII. There, she met her first husband, Alec Taylor. They embarked on a new adventure and immigrated to Red Deer, AB in 1953. Just two years later, they were in a car accident where Alec was tragically killed. Patricia recovered and returned to Manchester, where she met her second husband, Arthur Tunstall. After the birth of their daughter, Lee-Ann, Patricia worked hard to convince Arthur to immigrate to Canada in 1966, again to Red Deer. The family then moved to Lethbridge, AB, for a brief but wonderful four years, followed by a move to Kitchener, ON, where they settled for the next 36 years. After Arthur’s death in 2009, Patricia moved back to her beloved Alberta for the next 11 years to be with Lee. 

Patricia loved to travel and to have a good time. She had an indomitable, resilient spirit and a strong zest for life. She loved her Harvey’s Bristol Cream and made a mean sherry trifle. She was a keen bowler and tennis player and played badminton into her 60s. She had a reputation for having fun with the younger generation and many of Lee’s friends became her friends or surrogate daughters and sons. In the last few years of her remarkable life, she discovered a whole new family as she welcomed five new siblings in addition to the brother she had known since childhood, Don; her sisters, Patricia, Peta (Steve) and Sybil; and brothers, Mícheál (Dee) and Raymond.  

Patricia will be most especially missed by her beloved daughter Lee, who helped her enjoy her final years in Calgary and also by her longstanding friends, Keith and Ann Strowger, and Roy and Laurie Yonkman; and her sister-in-law Betty Chesworth. Also much loved by Lella Blumer, Sheila Brawn and Wally Thiessen, Jennifer Drope, Patty McGovern, Joanne Kita-Coley, Pip Farrar and Dave Bartle, Zoë Agashae, Marilyn Field, Sarah Eaton and Todd Maki, Doreen Barrie and Derek Brown, Cora Voyageur, Pamila Fonseka and Prasad Ganesan, and Elisabeth McDonald and all the members of the North Hill Solo Club and the Calgary Street Talkers Coronation Street Club. 

Thank you to Drs. Bland, Slawnych and Mutch for their care and compassion and to the staff and residents (Thelma, Ethel, Betty and Connie especially) at the Manor at Huntingdon Hills for providing a lovely home to Patricia in her final years. 

A Funeral Service will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel Of The Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB), on Friday, July 30, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.  Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Tunstall’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.   Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.  Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here. Donations can be directed to the Meow Foundation (www.meowfoundation.com) in recognition of Patricia’s love for all things feline and for this charity in particular that she donated to faithfully every year. 

In living memory of Patricia Tunstall, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.
 

Thank you for joining us for the live-streaming of this event 
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Unfortunately, there are times when the internet connection at the venue or where you are viewing from may cause interference and buffering.
We apologize if this is the case with today’s live-stream but we want to assure you that this service will be recorded and uploaded following the service.
 

View Patricia Tunstall's Memorial Card Here