Nora Patricia Kiernan Liddy

In the garden of her green eyes

She planted and toiled away

While all the lesser gods and blessed Saints

Gathered round to watch

Through bitter trials and no applause

She carried her life with pride

While the lesser gods and the blessed Saints gathered

round to watch

So all the lesser gods and the blessed Saints

Put their minds together and thought and thought and thought

“What can we do for this woman?

She has had not help, never realized her dreams, all she has done is become a factory machine.”

She gazes out to her garden

And sees that two magnolias are gone

While all the lesser gods and blessed Saints

Look on

She sighs

Seventeen Saints smile

When she wakes

She finds two blossoms

Above her heart

And all the lesser gods

And all the million saints

Have gathered around her soul

God bless you Mom, God bless

Hello my name is Gemma, this is Ruby and Ryan. We are three of Pat’s thirteen grandchildren. Pat, Granny, Goga, Little Baba, mom was born on March 9, 1937 in Wallasey, England. She was the eldest of three girls. As a child Pat was independent, clever and free spirited. During her childhood, she endured the hardships of World War 2. Her intelligence was evident when she became the first on her street to receive a scholarship to Marymount convent. Not to be stifled by the strict environment she came up with ways to entertain herself and her friends, one antic being mastering the perfect fake sneeze during prayer. At twenty three Pat got married and started a family. After having her seventh child, they made the brave decision to immigrate to Canada in hopes of a better life for their children. When she was eight months pregnant with seven children in tow they boarded the plane leaving friends and family behind. Arriving in Kamloops, culture shock set in Pat felt she had arrived in the Wild West. It would take several years for her to adjust to her new surroundings and way of life. Shortly after arriving, she had child number 8 and two years later had her ninth child completing the family. While raising her large family, she worked at various jobs including the Kamloops News, Ziebart’s restaurant and the Bambi motel where she met her life long friend, Joan. Eventually she found her calling working with children in childcare. At the age of 50 she bravely enrolled in the early childhood education program at Cariboo College. Pat touched many lives during her time as a childcare worker and to this day is fondly remembered as Grandma Pat.

Little Baba by Ryan

She was known by many names,

Little Baba, Granny, Nora and Pat,

And a select few even knew her as Bat,

Many ways to describe a rose

(that was a reference to Shakespeare prose)

This comparison does fit her well though

Strong, yet soft and possessing a beautiful glow,

And occasionally thorny as many have known

If they were present after Coronation horns have blown,

She was a great deal of things to many people

And every Sunday was here under this very steeple,

She left a positive mark on one and all

Which is why it’s so sad to see her fall

She may be gone, but we won’t forget her

And eventually we’ll all feel better

Until then we can share stories of her day

But be sure to embellish, she liked them that way.

Happy Birthday by Janet

I'm spending my birthday in heaven this year

Not where I was planning to be

I'm sorry I left you so sudden like that

But I had no control you see.

I do have to say the journey was good

Much better than others I've done.

No planning nor packing:I came as I was

And so far I'm having good fun.

Each day I run into old friends that I knew

Who'd arrived before I got here,

I feel so relaxed in this place, I must say,

I never have need of a beer.

I know you're still sad--that's a natural thing

When we leave folk behind down below

But it will get better with time I am sure

As on with your lives you all go.

So think of me now with a smile or a laugh

Or even a tear if you must

But things will work out that's my message to you

As long as in God you still trust.