Obituary of Pamela Turnbull Lucas
It is with great sadness that the family of Reverend Pamela Turnbull Lucas announce her peaceful passing on Monday 1st February in Toronto, Canada from a brief illness (cancer). Pamela was a devoted wife to Jane, much loved sister of Ian and Hazel, caring Auntie to Conor and Harry and a dear sister-in-law to Gavin and Nikki. Pamela will now be reunited with her beloved parents Pat and Ian.
During her life, she travelled the world with family and friends, and never stopped planning for the next trip. She was an avid motorcycle rider, having ridden a bike for more than 30 years, most recently her Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. She thoroughly enjoyed riding her bike – no destination required (the ride was the destination!) and always came home from a ride with the biggest smile on her face! Pamela was a member of the CAV (Canadian Army Veterans Morotcyle Unit) with a handle of Piper (because she played the bagpipes) for a few years, and then joined the Motor Maids in 2014. She loved riding with this group of women and was hoping to be able to go to Convention this year.
Another of Pamela’s passions was delving into the Family Tree – long before it became a social phenomenon. She has been able to trace the family back 100’s of years and has connected with distant relatives both in her hometown of Gateshead as well as across the globe. She also took great delight in helping others to trace their roots.
Pamela was an academic through and through, with three master’s degrees (in Social Work and Theology). She studied at Oxford, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Johannesburg SA, and after emigrating to Canada, continued her studies, doing courses at Ryerson and Lakehead Universities and Fleming College in Canada, and with the Institute of Counselling in the UK, always striving to stay current within her profession.
Pamela worked as a Social Worker in the UK before training for ministry with the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1998. She was ordained deacon (2000) and priest (2001) in Durham Cathedral. When Pamela finished her curacy in the Diocese, she went to test her vocation with a religious community in London (2004-2006). After that, she worked for some years as a hospital chaplain in Basingstoke, and then emigrated to Canada (2009) where she has served as a full-time Hospital Chaplain and Psychotherapist at St. Michael's Hospital. Pamela served as a volunteer chaplain at Mount Sinai in 2009 as well as Rouge Valley, and has served as an Honorary Assistant at St. Monica, St. Peter, Carlton Street, St. Leonard, St. Cyprian, and most recently at St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican churches in Toronto.
Pamela felt a calling to be a Hospital Chaplain when she was still in school and followed that vocation throughout her life. As social worker, priest, nun and chaplain/psychotherapist, she has made a difference, for good, in the lives of countless people. Her warmth, compassion, hunger for social justice, along with her bright smile and infectious laugh will be remembered by everyone.
Pamela was cremated at a private service in Toronto, and when travel is once again permitted, will be brought home to Gateshead to be buried with her parents.
If you would like to honour Pamela's memory, please consider making a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (https://www.heartandstroke.ca/) in Canada, The Royal Signals Benevolent Fund (https://royalsignals.org/royal-signals-charity) in the UK, or any other charity of your choice. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
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