FUNERAL INFORMATION UPDATED
It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Vylma Irene Patchin, late of Saskatoon, SK formerly of Prince Albert, SK on November 11th, 2025, at the age of 91 years. Vylma was born in Prince Albert, SK, and together with her brothers Paul and Bud, her sister Lila, and her mother Gunhild. She spent several years on their Grandfather Sollom’s farm near Birch Hills, SK. The family eventually moved back into Prince Albert, SK where Vylma went to school.
Vylma was married in Prince Albert, SK and worked at the Sanitorium as a nurse’s assistant. She welcomed her first child, Leslie, in 1952, her daughter Ruby, in 1955 who were born in Prince Albert, SK and her son Darrel in 1957 was born in North Battleford, SK.
The family moved to Saskatoon, SK, then to Kapuskasing, ON and then to Newark, CA in 1964. Vylma enjoyed California life and told great stories about favourite restaurants, learning how to drive, trying new recipes, and day to day activities such as driving Ruby and her friends to the roller-skating rink! Although she left high school before graduating, she achieved her GED high school equivalency certificate in California – while working in inventory control at a department store and looking after her children.
Vylma returned to Canada in 1975, settling first in Porcupine Plain, SK and then moved to Prince Albert, SK. She worked in Inventory Control until her retirement, first at Norcan Air and then at the PA Foundry. Vylma was amazing when it came to anything to do with numbers and she had an incredible memory and organized mind. These abilities really helped in her work – she had to manage and keep track of literally thousands of parts and equipment.
Vylma retired in 1998 and eventually moved to Saskatoon, SK in 2011. She shared a condo with her daughter Ruby for the last 14 years. They enjoyed trips to California and stopping to gamble in Jackpot, NV. In recent years, Vylma frequently acted as Ruby’s sous-chef, cutting up vegetables, making the delicious sauce for cabbage rolls, doing prep work for cooking, baking and pickling. A lot of these efforts ended up in the stomachs of her children and grandchildren!
Vylma loved to play cards, and she was a menace at Skip Bo. She enjoyed boards games and did her word search puzzles even while she was in hospital. Her knack of getting the right answer to Wordle was uncanny. She was especially thrilled when she could get the answer to Final Jeopardy when the contestants could not! She liked old movies, Johnny Cash and true crime TV shows. She knew everything that was going on in the news and could fill you in on both Canadian and US politics.
Vylma’s greatest joy in life came from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to hear from them, enjoyed their visits, and phone calls. Her great-grandchildren call her GG, and she loved that name. She kept up with all the stories about boyfriends or girlfriends, school projects, hockey games, remembered birthdays and other celebrations. Nothing made her smile more than bragging about one of her children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
Vylma was also a poet, loved to write and occasionally recite her poems. The poems touch on the importance of living life well, despite its difficulties, and not dwelling on things we cannot change. They reflect a life well-lived and the importance of love and family. She will be missed by every one of us.
Vylma is predeceased by her son Darrel Patchin, her mother Gunhild Knudsen, her sister Lila Knudsen, & her two brothers, Paul Knudsen & Gerhardt Knudsen.
Vylma is survived by her oldest son, Leslie Patchin, her daughter Ruby Lacourse, and multiple grandchildren & great grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A Service of Remembrance will be held for Vylma on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, at 1 PM at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, with interment to follow. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium. Mark & Pedro Gyoerick, Mel & Troy Curle, & Jordyn Jacobson. 306.763.8488.

• Date : 2025-11-11
• Location : Saskatoon, Sk formerly of Prince Albert, SK