Auntie Pat was a legend in our household – to my kids, she was the person famous for “always having ice cream and jelly” when we visited. It was the same for me when I was a kid – I’ll always remember the sense of expectation going to visit Pat: would there be Dr Pepper in the fridge?! Pat was the person who remembered everyone’s birthdays without fail – decades of birthday cards to all of us. Even after we’d moved to New Zealand, we’d still get punctual birthday greetings, in recent years via Tina on WhatsApp, but always in Pat’s own words. She’ll be sadly missed but we’ll always remember Pat’s kindness and laughter.

When Pat smiled, she didn't just smile with her mouth, her whole face would light up and her eyes truly did sparkle. Having a joke with Pat would often end with her fantastic laugh filling the room and everyone else giggling along too. Pat was a strong, fiercely independent lady, who was also impressively stubborn, we loved all of her qualities! I will forever treasure Pats stories and the memories of her sat in front of a sewing machine or potting plants in the garden. I will miss her incredible quiz knowledge, wisdom and advice, as well as walking past her room and hearing André Rieu concerts on repeat!  It has been an absolute honour to support Pat these past few years. The Maple Memory Centre will be a very different place without you Pat Pat. All my love, Leah  x

A good friend, thanks for all the fun ad laughter, the happy times will live on in my memory.