PATRICIA (PAT) BONAZEW
January 28, 1954 – November 16, 2003
Pat Bonazew, age 49, passed away peacefully at St. Michael’s Health Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta on November 16, 2003 after a spirited battle with cancer.
Pat was born at the Roblin General Hospital in Roblin, MB on January 28, 1954, the youngest child of Alexander and Anne (Labuke) Bonazew. She was raised and received her education in Roblin, with the exception of one year where she resided in Toronto, ON. She received her practical nursing degree from Red River College in Winnipeg and did her practicum in 1972 at Swan Valley Hospital.
Pat married in 1974 and this union produced Jordan Rooks. In 1977, Pat re-married and had two more children Myndy and Tim Machan. Marriage was not Pat’s calling, however. She always said her mission in life was to raise her children, and that she did. In 1982, Pat and the “kids” (loving pup Velvet included) moved to Flin Flon, MB where Pat was a nurse at the Flin Flon General Hospital. Pat went back to school in the mid 1980’s and received an administrative diploma as her family was growing up and shift work was not an option for a single mom. This led to a position in the hospital’s purchasing department.
In 1989 she caught the moving bug and relocated the family to Bowden, AB where she purchased the local newspaper “The Voice of Bowden”. The paper was not only a job, but also a lifestyle where Pat flourished. Pat got all her children through high school in Bowden (which was a real goal for her to have all of them graduate from the same school). During this time Pat was an outstanding member of Bowden’s Town Council. After selling the newspaper, Pat worked at Olds College, which she truly enjoyed. She loved working with students, as she had always wanted to be a teacher, but that was not to be.
Once again, related to her mission to raise her children, Pat relocated to Edmonton in 1999 to help one of them make it through tough times in post-secondary education. During her stay in Edmonton Pat worked in an administrative capacity for The Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists and the Alberta Home and School Association. The move to Edmonton and the time there was difficult (big city life was not for Pat), but in June 2001 she watched with pride as her daughter accepted her degree from the University of Alberta and noted to all that would listen that the ends definitely justified the means.
Pat was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2003; at the same time her daughter accepted a job in Lethbridge, AB. Pat thought the move would be good for her and opted to go along. However, it was decided at this time she would be the one looked after.
Pat was often heard to say that she looked forward to six new dresses in her life. She made it to number five. The first three regarded her children’s high school graduations. The next was for her son Tim’s wedding in August 2002. The fifth was for her son Jordan’s wedding in April 2003. These unions brought the utmost pride to Pat along with two very special gifts, grandsons William Rooks and Ethan Machan, whom she cherished. If Pat was meant to be a mother, she was definitely meant to be a grandmother.
Those to mourn her passing are her loving children, Jordan (Julie) Rooks of Red Deer, Myndy Machan of Lethbridge, Tim (Stacey) Machan of Medicine Hat and grandsons William Rooks and Ethan Machan. Also mourning her passing are her mother, Anne Bonazew of Roblin, grandpuppy Annie, and Pat’s siblings, Peggy (Norman) Bresky, Harold (Shelby) Bonazew, Irene (Alex) Gourlay, Merle (Hank) Cormier and their families, which included many special nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephew. Pat also leaves to mourn many wonderful friends from all times in her life, some of whom include Rosie Pastuck, Jenny Machan, Pat Boydh, Marlene Bobby, Sophie Anderson, Debbie Bailey, Lorna Reid, Shirley Adams, Mildred Lane, Val Lucas and Lois Duggan.
Pat was pre-deceased by her father, Alexander Bonazew and nephew, Norman Bresky Jr.
Memorial services will be held Friday November 21, 2003 at two o’clock at St. Andrew’s United Church in Bowden, AB with Reverend John Coe officiating. A luncheon will follow at the Bowden Friendship Center.
A second memorial service will be held Saturday November 29, 2003 at two o’clock at the Nairn-Chyz Funeral Home in Roblin, MB with Mrs. Peggy Barrows officiating. A luncheon is to follow at the 50+ Club.
Inurnment at Nova Zora Cemetery in the RM of Shell River, MB at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in memory of Pat may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (Research Dept.) 2nd Flr. 215 – 12th Ave. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 1A2.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.