Patricia (Pat) Ellen Schade
February 24, 1924 ~ July 3, 2014
Patricia (Pat) Ellen Schade passed away peacefully July 3, 2014 with her daughter Patti and good friend Connie by her side. She was 90 years old.
Patricia (Pat) Ellen Schade was born February 24, 1924 in Vernon, BC, the seventh of nine children. She grew up and went to school in Vernon making some long time friends along the way. After she finished school she worked at the Hudson Bay Co. as a clerk. Pat met her husband Ariel (Ted) while he was posted in Vernon training for the forces. After standing him up for their first blind date she went roller skating with him and that was all it took. They married in 1943 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before Ariel passed away. In 1946 Ariel and Pat moved to Creston and then Wynndel where they ran the Co-op Store. Pat kept busy with the Wynndel Community Club planning all kinds of activities. She also was also employed by the Wynndel Fruit Growers and was a top notch packer.
During this time they were blessed with their first son Kevin in 1953 followed by another son Leigh in 1955 and then a daughter Patti in 1958. They moved back to town in 1956 as Ariel accepted a job at Taks Home Furnishers in Creston. They made their home in Alice Siding. Pat was a incredible nurturing mother and ran a organized household. Every evening she would sit in her chair reading the Vernon Daily News or later the Province and was sure to complete each and every crossword puzzle. In her earlier days (before TV) she was a avid reader enjoying her True Detective novels. Later she volunteered at the Tuck Shop and for ten years volunteered at Pioneer Villa doing residents' hair every Friday. One of the bright spots later was becoming a member of the TAPS program where she participated in many activities around the valley.
Pat loved to bake cookies, pies and always made yummy desserts of all kinds. Grandchildren remember it was an absolute requirement to accept food when visiting, usually one of her famous gum drop cookies or a homemade buns made up with cheese or peanut butter and jam. She was always sure to produce a peppermint out of her pocket or the much needed tissue. She was a avid canner, canning every vegetable or fruit and the fruit cellar was always full of preserves. She loved her flowers and had beautiful gardens full of her favorites. She definitely had a green thumb.
Pat loved to play cribbage, bowling and later took up the game of golf. She also liked to walk until her health changed. In earlier days she and Ariel would skate down the channel or spend Sunday afternoons skating at the civic center. Sunday was also a day for a drive around the valley where she was always a master backseat driver.
Grandchildren were her second blessing in life where she was presented with four granddaughters and two grandsons. She was a avid fan at every ball, soccer or especially hockey games that her grandsons played and could be heard at games always urging them on or reprimanding anyone who dared to touch them. Family always came first and when along came her six great-grandchildren they added a sparkle to her eyes whenever she would see them or their pictures.
Pat was predeceased by her husband Ariel, seven brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by her loving family Kevin (Ann) Schade, Leigh (Sandra) Schade and her daughter Patti (Don) McInnis; grandchildren Laurinda (John) Penner, Jill (Doug) Jenkinson, Erin (Miche) Landry, Arielle (Mel) Schade, Andrew (Melisa) McInnis and Patrick McInnis; great-grandchildren, Shyleigh, Elouise, Grace, Adella, Ilsa, Noah and Austin. She is also survived by her good friend Connie McFadden and family and will be greatly missed by friend Sharon Haines.