Obituary of Patricia Stevens Stackhouse

Peacefully, at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, on Sunday, April 16, 2023, “Trish” as she was affectionately known by, was born April 18, 1932 in Ottawa, Ontario. Alumnus of Queen’s University (B.A. Arts ’54), Trish/Mom was known for her irreverent sense of humour, her unfailing determination and her joy for life. Mom suffered profound losses at an early age and learned to take nothing and no one for granted. She held dear those friends and family that she loved, and gathered and maintained many friendships over her lifetime. She found her vocation as a kindergarten teacher in her mid-30s and was beloved by her students, many of whom visited her later in life with their own children.

With an American born mother and a Canadian born father, Mom’s feet were firmly planted in North American politics from her first march on Parliament Hill in the 1940s to protest the 7 cent chocolate bar. As a staunch Liberal Democrat, she read the Globe and Mail and the New York Times cover to cover until the end of her life. Sunday dinners were never dull!

Most important to Mom was her family. She was predeceased by her parents, Dr. Rubert and Ruth Stevens and sisters, Lois and Ruth. She is survived by Brock, her husband and best friend of almost 70 years, and daughters, Susie (children Diana (George) and Paul) and Wendy (David) (children Emma (Jacob) and Sara) and her great-grandson Leo. As the last surviving sister, Mom also became the family matriarch and second mom/grandmother to her late sisters’ children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren, as well as a few special family friends.

Mom’s final wishes were to see Donald Trump indicted and to attend her great-grandson Leo’s second birthday. She did both, to her great pleasure!

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to her grand-niece, Jenny, and to the caring and dedicated team at Sunnybrook for helping to make Mom’s final days so full of love and care.

The family will receive friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue, Toronto from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on April 21, 2023. A Celebration of Life will be held at Knox United Church, 2569 Midland Avenue, Scarborough at 2:00 p.m. on April 22, 2023.  A private family interment will be held later this spring at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank would be deeply appreciated. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.

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