Patricia Ann Holowachuk passed away peacefully, as was her wish, with her beloved husband Archie and son Jason by her side. She left us on September 12, 2010, just as the first rays of sunlight entered her room at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. Patricia enjoyed a full and remarkable life focused on family, friends, education and faith. She was an engaging conversationalist with an infectious smile, an abundant laugh and a genuineness that touched the hearts of everyone she met. She loved children and they adored her. Patricia was raised on the family farm in Kinistino, Saskatchewan. At the age of 19 she began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse near Birch Hills, later taking positions in Melfort, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Along the way she met husband Archie, the love of her life for 45 cherished years. Patricia was gifted as a teacher and passionate about early childhood education. She helped introduce the first Montessori-type school to western Canada by setting up the Pulp Mill Preschool in Prince Albert in the mid 1970s. She served as its Director for a number of years before returning to the public system as a kindergarten teacher in the early 1980s, retiring in 1997. Over a 35 year career, Patricia educated generations of young children in and around the Prince Albert area. She was also very proud to have achieved lifetime membership status in Beta Sigma Phi. She attended St. Alban’s Cathedral regularly and worked tirelessly over the years as a Sunday school teacher and on the altar guild. In retirement, she and Archie spent wonderful winters in Victoria, meeting new friends and renewing old acquaintances. In recent years Patricia also became an avid quilter, creating masterful works from which she took great satisfaction and developed lasting friendships. Patricia was determined to fight her cancer and help others achieve that goal. She decided to move to Calgary to be close to family caregivers and undertake a new treatment. She remained vibrant, active and positive while undergoing chemotherapy continuously for nearly 3 years, and spoke often of the incredible support she received from the friends and family who would call, visit and write daily. She found hope in the compassionate care of Dr. Jacob Easaw, the Tom Baker nursing staff and the palliative care team who made a difference every day. Patricia is survived by her loving husband Archie Holowachuk of Prince Albert, son Jason of Calgary, brother Lloyd (Joyce) Spencer of Kinistino, nephew Byron (Dianne) Spencer of Kinistino and their children Arynne and Tyler whom she adored dearly, as well as Tracy (Nelson) Lanaway of Regina and many other cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Victor (Florence) Spencer and infant sister Joan of Kinistino. Patricia was unforgettable. She inspired us. She will always be deeply missed. As she loved to say, and repeated shortly before her passing, we will always have each other in our hearts. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on September 23, 2010 at St. Alban’s Cathedral, 1410 Bishop Maclean Crescent, Prince Albert, with a Celebration of Life to be held after the service and a family interment to follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial tributes be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) in Saskatchewan, 1910 McIntyre St., Regina, SK S4P 2R3 or CCS Alberta, 200 – 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 or the Tom Baker Cancer Centre c/o Alberta Cancer Foundation, 710 – 10123, 99th Street, Calgary, AB T5J 3H1. Those unable to attend but wishing to forward condolences and reminiscences are invited to do so through Gray’s Funeral Chapel at www.grays.ca. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Gray's Funeral Chapel, Drew Gray, Funeral Director.