Patricia McCarry (nee Smith)

On October 11 at 3:00 pm, our parents, Bob and Pat McCarry were driving northbound on highway 15 enroute to their cottage for the long weekend when they were struck by a car that left the southbound lanes, across the median and struck them head on near Ste. Adele. Our mother passed away on the scene and our father is in the hospital at the Montreal General Hospital.

Our parents met when they were 15 and 17. They married at 19 and not quite 21 and our Grandfather, Emmett, had to sign their documents at the church registry since they were a month shy of our dad’s 21st birthday in 1959. They had 3 children Kelly-Anne (Brent), Michael (Dina) and Sharon. They celebrated their 65 wedding anniversary this year.

Our mother’s parent’s Robert Russell Smith(1998) (Smith-Campbell-Kirkpatrick Clans) and Margaret Brydges Smith(2018) had 4 children; Annie Patricia(Bob), Russell (Audrey), Robert (Elizabeth) and Diane (Wayne). Our mother was especially close to Robert who was only 3 when she married our dad. Mom and Dad dragged Robert around to family functions on my father’s side and whenever they were out and about to give our Nanny a break. Mom always referred to him as her kid brother. Our mom was 84 years young.

Pat was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a cousin, an aunt, a sister-in-law, our Nanny and she was proud to be a Great Nanny. She was a friend to many and everyone she would pass by on the street. She was quirky and shy and often misunderstood, but we loved her. For us she was our mom, who wore many hats: Brownie leader, hot dog day lady and the neighbour who always had a pot of soup on the stove and homemade cookies. Our home was the hang out place for our many friends who called her Auntie Pat in our amazing neighbourhood filled with lovely families and the many, many memories we had during our summers with the gang at Lac Dufresne, the cottage.

She was a ferocious reader, crossword addict, miniature dollhouse collector, curling club member and she should have been a Jeopardy contestant, which she was every night! She was a news junkie on both sides of the border. Her only regret was that her dad would not pay the $12 per year fee for her to be enrolled in Sciences in high school. With spirited energy, she enrolled back into school in 1975 and became a nurse. She worked at the Montreal General Hospital for over 25 years and she retired in 1999. She always talked fondly of the many friends and colleagues she made over the years, especially Sylvia and Maria.

Mom enjoyed travelling. She made many trips to Florida with our dad and her dear friend Ruth. She visited Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto many times. She especially enjoyed Exuma for the warm water and sandy beaches. Last year we made a family trip to Ireland where she purchased her much desired Aryan sweater and her Claddagh ring!

She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren; Brendan Drew (Sherry ), Sarah (Steve), Shannon Patricia (Myles). She will be especially missed by Sharon’s boys, Liam and Colm-Coco, who were very close to their Nanny. They spoke to her or saw her daily since they were born. There are no words for their loss.

She was blessed with great grandchildren: Alexis, Trinity, Kori, Callum, Gabriel, Emilia and Eleanor, Sloane Patricia and Parker. She was looking forward to seeing them in December in Florida and looking forward to having more of the littles visit at the cottage next summer.

Our mom was a sister-in-law and aunt to the substantial McCarry Clan:

Joan (Bud) and their children: Bonnie, Debbie, Leslie Lear

Kay(Ken) Karen, Kathy, Kevin Peladeau

Billy (Doreen) and their children: Colleen, Arleen and Christine Griffith

Brian (Toni) and their children: Sean, Kim and Mark

Sheila and her children; Steven Wrobleski, Sharon and Tracy

Marva (Bob) and their children: Steve, Michael and Brian DeFilippo’s

As well as all of their children and many greats.

Mom was very proud to be one of the first Directors at Coco’s Place Foundation. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider making a donation in her name.

A celebration of her life will take place early next summer.