Patricia Rosaline Marais

Patricia Rosaline Marais, passed away peacefully, June 26, 2020, at her long-term care centre, IOOF in Barrie, with family by her side.  She was a loving wife to John Marais, who passed away in 1995, mother to daughter Wendy, sons Andre and Glenn and devoted and loving grandmother to Samantha Lupusella, Jonathan Marais, Hailey Marais, Jasmine and Hillary Marais. Her sisters, Thelma Abrahams and Olga Clayton await her in heaven, and were all known for their joyful smiles, engaging laughter and love of family and friends. Pat, Patty Cakes, Giggles, Granny, were all loving nicknames for a larger than life personality whose warmth and radiance shone a light on all who knew her.

Pat and John, emigrated from South Africa in 1964 inspiring many to follow them to create a new life in Canada. In fact, their close friends from Cape Town, said that they were pioneers for many of them who followed in their footsteps, also moving to Canada. It was a brave step leaving home with nothing but a suitcase and a dream, walking up the ramp of a large ocean liner and waving goodbye to friends and family to begin life anew in the country that they both came to love and consider home. It didn’t take long for a circle of friends to develop and grow into Aunties and Uncles that surrounded us all with love and laughter.  My mom and dad loved music and dancing and parties with their friends. Many a time they would stay all up night, dancing till dawn, playing cards and turning homes into banquet halls. They were great times and helped them to forge a better life for themselves and their family.

Our mom had an open-door policy for all of our friends and for anyone who emigrated to Canada from South Africa, she not only invited them in, she helped them to settle in and find their way around. She did this for many people and went out of her way time and again, sharing her home and knowledge to help, but most important of all was the love and compassion that she shared with them.  Many of our friends, spoke of how she made them feel at home and always offered food and even shelter if they needed it. That lesson has stuck with all of us and is something that we all believe in and impart in our own lives.

My mom gave unselfishly of herself to everyone she knew and always seemed to put her own interests last and yet that was her happiness, seeing others happy and helping them to fulfill their dreams. Her dream was to be a teacher, but she put that aside to raise her children, working part time to help out around the house and then when her children were old enough, she went back to college at Seneca King Campus to upgrade her education.  This resulted in her securing a job at the York Region District School Board, working in the Audio-Visual Department.  She finished her career at Dr Denison Secondary School. “The AV lady”, as she was affectionately known, loved her job and the people that she worked with. We believe that in many ways, her dream of being a teacher, was reflected in her positive influence on so many and in her work with the YRDSB, she often spoken to young students, mentoring and guiding them in her inimitable style of charm, grace and humor.

Pat, suffered from dementia and spent the last years of her life in Park Place Manor, Southlake Long Term Care and passed away at the IOOF in Barrie.  She was known for her pleasant demeanor and ready laugh, earning her the nickname, Giggles, that carried forward through each home.  She always received good care, and while at the IOOF, received extraordinary and loving care, that made her last days, very peaceful and personal. All of the family, took care of Pat as best we could, Paulette Godin a caregiver from Park Place Manor, helped us a great deal with moms care and daughter-in-law, Deborah Marais went above and beyond with her love for Pat, whom she called her best friend acting as her caregiver and greatest ally in her care and health. We are deeply grateful to her.

We believe Pat is with her beloved, husband John, her sister Thelma and Olga and her parents in Heaven, surrounded by love. We remember her with great love and fond memories.

In Lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask that you make a donation to The Heart and Stroke Foundation www.heartandstroke.ca