Patricia Eileen Van Der Mark passed away on April 27, 2021. We thought it was her MS that was giving her trouble, but instead it was a nasty and aggressive brain cancer (glioblastoma) that quickly stole her from us. Our only solace was that she was pain free and restful in her final days. Pat was born on November 14th, 1947 in Sidney, British Columbia to Nancy and Stewart Arnold. As the middle child of five children, she grew up surrounded by playmates, confidantes, and love. On August 3rd, 1968, she married her loving husband, Harry Van Der Mark. Pat and Harry spent most of their lives living in Acme, Alberta where they raised their three daughters, Ara, Sheena and Rea. Pat worked for the Royal Bank in High Prairie, Edmonton, Three Hills and Beiseker, and retired after the closing of the Beiseker branch. After retiring, Pat and Harry moved to Shenyang, China to teach English. Pat made many dear friends in China who will miss her greatly. Pat was immensely proud of each of her daughters, and she wouldn’t hesitate to tell you about them. Her daughters, Ara, Sheena and Rea are devastated at her passing, angry at the cancer that took her so suddenly, and grateful to have had so many years with her. Pat spent her later years making quilts for many new babies and was overjoyed when she got the opportunity to make two for her granddaughter, Wya. Wya was always such a joy and pride to Pat, and she loved to read to her and share her jello, even in her final days. Pat was grateful that the pandemic prompted weekly video chats with her siblings, especially as her MS prevented her from traveling to visit them later in her life. She loved them dearly and looked forward to these virtual visits all week. Pat stood up for her values, instilled them in her children, and was ahead of her time in understanding issues of social justice. She often looked at life with a very matter-of-fact attitude. She loved her family and friends and wouldn’t hesitate to tell you if someone treated them wrong. She had difficulty understanding why people behaved poorly to others, put up with injustices in the world or rejected empirical/scientific evidence. Pat is survived by her loving husband, Harry, her three daughters, Ara, Sheena, and Rea, her granddaughter, Wya, her siblings Cathy (Dale), Stew (Donna), Chuck (Denise), and Rick (Lori) and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please send a letter to her family about your favourite memory with Pat, or make a donation in her name to the Foothills Medical Centre, the Three Hills Health Centre, the Alberta Cancer Society, The MS Society of Canada, or your preferred social justice organization.
