Ms. Patricia Eileen Lovis, age 78, resident of Thunder Bay passed away peacefully with family by her side on June 20, 2024, at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Pat was born on July 15, 1945, in Nanaimo BC, then relocated with her parents to Fort William when she was two. She attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School, St. Patrick High School and went on to graduate from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1966. Early in her nursing career Pat enjoyed working with children in Paediatrics at St. Joseph’s Hospital; she took some time away from nursing to pursue a business in ceramics with Carol Gibbon. A decade later she returned to nursing where she realized her true passion in Geriatric care. She was extremely dedicated to her calling and eventually accepted a management role from which she retired as a well-respected Nurse Manager at Bethammi Nursing Home.
Pat is survived by her sister Lynda (Clayton) Macgowan and their children Laura (Heikki Luoma) Macgowan, Shawn (Marnie) Macgowan and Michelle (Peter) Warywoda, her brother David (Emma) Lovis and their children Cathy (John) Bakich, Bryan (Kim) Lovis, and Kerri (Marc) Penton, her sister Diane (Darren) Nason and her sister Theresa (Christian) Hostettler and their children Paul (Aline Dombrowski), Adrian (Eliane) and Jessica and great nephews and nieces, Aleksi and Adam Luoma, Liam, Lachlan and Hunter Macgowan, Brandon and Owen Bakich, Lynden and Tristan Warywoda, Brett and Brody Lovis, Emily and Louisa Dombrowski, Jakob Penton, Lian and Nilo Hostettler. She is predeceased by her parents Eileen and Alfred Lovis.
Cremation has taken place, and a funeral mass will be held on Saturday, June 29 at 11:00am at St. Dominic Church. Visitation for family and friends will commence at 10:00am. As per Pat’s wishes, no formal reception will be held but friends and family are welcome to gather on their own to share memories in her honour.
Pat was loved by many and gave with generosity. Even when Pat was struggling with her health, she put family and friends above herself, providing anything needed without hesitation. She looked forward to her long-distance phone calls with her best friend, June Watson that sometimes lasted over 3 hours. Pat loved all kinds of music (Elvis No.1), books and travel, especially when she was the driver. You knew Pat was nearby when you heard the music blaring from her car three blocks away. She would travel far and wide for concerts (over 150) and shows to enjoy. She would reminisce about seeing the greats – Elvis, Barbra, Tina, Andrea, and Fleetwood Mac. She loved to tell stories of her adventures, the sports she played in her youth, her rounds of golf after work, and hear about the songs and places that you loved. Pat shared her artistic gift of painting with us through her ceramics. We will cherish the many special pieces she created over the years.
In Pat’s memory, we hope you enjoy life, play your music a little bit louder, and squeeze every drop from each day as she always did. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pat’s favourite charity, Covenant House or a charity of your choice.
Pat’s memory lives on through the voice of a musician she loved—Andrea Bocelli—who sang:
Time to say goodbye, horizons are never far
Would I have to find them alone?
Without true light of my own with you
I will go on ships over seas, that I now know
No, they don’t exist anymore
Without true light of my own with you
It’s time to say goodbye.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
