On Friday, November 5, 2010, Patricia Gordon Condo (Collard) passed away at the Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg in her 94th year.

She is fondly remembered by her loving son Richard and his wife Heather Mutcheson, by her beloved grandchildren: Graham Condo and his wife Tanya; Rosemary Condo and her husband Troy Howe; Susan Lyon, her husband David and their little daughter Abigail; and David Condo; and by her `bonus grandchildren`: Donovan and Sara Wiebe and their son Hunter; and Dallas Wiebe and Leigh Robinson. She is also survived by her cousin George Gordon, and by her sister-in-law Barbara Small. Pat was predeceased by her husband Willard (Bill), her daughter Rosemary, and her parents Richard and Mildred Collard.
Pat was born on November 25, 1916 in St. Catharines, Ontario. As she was growing up, she and her parents lived for a year in Hawaii where her father was on a construction project. After returning to Canada, the family moved to Saskatoon for a short period of time, before settling in Winnipeg. Pat attended both Riverbend and Rupertsland Schools, where she made many friends.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the family moved to Ottawa, where her father had enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, overseeing the construction of all the air bases for the Commonwealth Air Training Program. Pat enlisted in the Canadian Red Cross Transport Corps, where she drove ambulances and trucks carrying soldiers who had been wounded in action oversees.
It was during this time that she met a young man, Willard Condo, who had come to Canada from the United States to join the war effort. Bill had enlisted in the Canadian Army and been posted to Camp Petawawa, where Pat was working with the Red Cross. The two were introduced to each other by mutual friends and fell in love. After a brief courtship, they were married at St. John`s Anglican Church, Ottawa on November 11, 1944, and lived in Pembroke for the duration of the war.

Pat and Bill then moved to Winnipeg, where they lived for the rest of their
lives. They had two children - Richard, who was born in 1946, and Rosemary, who was born in 1949 and who died in a tragic traffic accident in 1969.

Like many of her contemporaries, Pat was a stay-at-home Mum, and loved to cook and bake for her family and their friends. Her home-made chocolate cake and her Christmas cake were simply out of this world. She was also involved in her community, particularly with the Junior League of Winnipeg, the St. Agnes Guild, and her home parish of All Saints Anglican Church, where she served on the Altar Guild and the Business Women`s Group.

Pat was a devoted mother, grandmother and, most recently, great-grandmother. She cherished her grandchildren, often giving them sage advice and constant encouragement. Each of them was made to feel extra special when hearing the words, “just remember, you`re my girl” or “you`re my boy.” As they were growing up, she would frequently give them mint candies, which led to them calling her “Peppermint Patty.” More recently, the family would gather with her on a regular basis to share in a feast of her favourite meal - fish and chips.
Pat`s generosity in helping many people was done in very quiet ways. To this day, there are dozens of people in the city whose needs have been met by an anonymous gift from Pat.

The family extends sincere thanks to Pat`s health care aides from Medox, to the staff on both CD3 and 3 West at the Riverview Health Centre, and to the staff at both Sturgeon Creek Retirement Residences for their excellent care. We are also grateful to Lynne Fineman for her guidance and counsel over the past few years.
A funeral service will be held for Pat on Friday, November 12 at 1:00 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church on the corner of Broadway and Osborne, with the Rev. Paul Johnson and the Rt. Rev. Eric Bays officiating. Interment will follow at St. John`s Cathedral Cemetery, after which a reception will be held in the Broadway Room of the Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints Anglican Church or to a charity of your choice.