Obituary of Patricia Richards
July 12, 1942 – January 30, 2019
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Pat Richards, a longtime resident of the Grande Prairie area, at the age of 76.
Pat was born in Blackpool, England and was an only child to her mother, Lillian Whittaker. They lived in Manchester, England until she was 4 when she and her mother, Lil, came to Canada as a war bride to Fred Redmond. They sailed from Southampton, England on the Queen Mary ocean liner and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia June of 1946. They then travelled by train across Canada from Halifax to Dimsdale, Alberta.
Pat attended a one-room school (grades 1-9) at Wapiti School near Dimsdale, and then to Harry Balfour School in Grande Prairie after the rural school closed. In 1958 Pat married Bob Wendt and they had four children and later divorcing in 1972.
On May 21, 1994 Pat married Don Richards and they recently celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary.
Pat always loved animals; her dogs, birds and especially horses. She loved chuckwagon racing all of her life and was involved with the Ralph Vigen family since the early 1950’s. She completed a Bookkeeping program in 1967 and was employed by several local businesses over the years, doing books for as many as 7 companies at once. Pat’s longest bookkeeping job was with Manhandler Barbershop for 33 years, until September of 2017 when her health deteriorated.
Pat is survived by her husband, Don; sister-in-laws Shirley (Darrel) Robock, Irene Ditch, Gloria Potter, Diane (Art) Jack; brother-in-law Gordon Richards; her children Lori Wendt, Donna Wendt (Mike Page), Derril Wendt (Sharon Fleming), Bryan (Pauline) Wendt; grandchildren Jordan Murphy, Chad Gaunt (Dana), Chance Gaunt (Tamara), Brody Wendt, Darcee Pyper (Justin), and Kade, Lexi and Cruz Wendt; and great grandchildren Nolen and Chelsea Murphy, Ariya, Sawyer and baby Pyper, Riley Hunt and Casper, her African Grey Parrot.
She is predeceased by her parents, Fred and Lil Redmond, her in-laws Clarence and Annie Richards,Dorman Ditch, Ken Potter, Bert Richards, Ralph Richards; son-in-law Jim Gaunt and her dog, Buttons.
A Memorial Service for Pat Richards will be held on Saturday, February 9th 2019 at 2pm at Bear Creek Funeral Home/Richmond Reception Center 11802 99 Avenue, Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Memorial donations may be made to the Crohns & Colitis foundation, cohttp://crohnsandcolitis.ca or to the Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society, PO Box 21215, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6W7
Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com