Patricia Louise (née Wilson) Shumka

Patsy-Lou was born in Vancouver on April 13, 1931, and along with her two older sisters, Joy and Joan, spent her formative years on the North Shore. At a young age, Pat was active in sports, especially field hockey and track in high school. As a sprightly cheerleader, she began dating the captain of the football team, Les Shumka. Pat and Les were married in 1953 and the rest has become the history of a life well-lived.

Soon after they were married the Air Force sent them to Europe, where their first child, Gary, was born in Germany and soon after, Leslie, in France. Many weekends were spent skiing in the Alps and there is an impressive video of them skiing to prove it!

They were transferred back to BC where they settled in Lynn Valley and began to put down roots. Soon after the move, Jane was born.

Their family of five was transferred to PEI in 1963 where many memories were created for the three children, including learning to skate on The Lake of Shining Waters. It was back east that Pat took up curling. Tim was born in PEI and Joy in Nova Scotia. During this time, they would take trips down to Philadelphia to visit Pat’s oldest sister, Joy, and her family.

Having to face many moves in her lifetime, this vibrant, diminutive woman would “quickly pick up, move and create home” many times over. Finally, in 1971, they settled in Victoria and bought the home that Pat was committed to staying in until her last few days.

Pat and Les invested their lives in Cordova Bay United Church. For Les, a new church building committee and creating a pre-school, The Carrot Seed. For Pat, whether being active on the prayer chain, attending to daily prayer requests, or knitting prayer shawls, Pat gave her time and love to the community she loved. She knit beautiful big prayer blankets for each of her 10 grandchildren which will be treasured for lifetimes.

Pat’s ongoing love of music was definitely part of her ability to become “settled in” quickly- wherever she went. The small piano, from earlier days, was eventually replaced with a beautiful grand piano, a surprise marriage anniversary gift from Les. Tim and Joy have many memories of singing in the Saanich District Youth Choir that their mom accompanied for years. For accompanying the Victoria Male Voice Choir, Pat received the Accompanist Emerita Award. She played at Pathways and once a month she took a choir down to Mount St. Mary Hospital.

In 1986, she was invited to be the music director at Cordova Bay United Church, and she accepted temporarily - “just until someone could be found for the position.” Sunday would see her at the organ, calm and unruffled, having put hours into choosing worship music that would be relevant with the Scriptures for that day. The choir was for her a jewel, and she led it with love and care from piano and organ until her retirement 38 years later.

The Shumka home had an open door for anyone in need, and many became long term guests starting with Pat’s mother, Ethel Wilson, who lived with them in the 1990’s until her passing at age 107. Many grandkids were cared for and over the years, different children and their entire family would come home while their home was being renovated

In 2012, Les died quite suddenly and shortly thereafter, a few granddaughters moved in and Pat found herself hosting an unusual gaggle of girls - Gramma’s own sorority! Over the last few years, friends of the family continued the roommate adventures which facilitated Pat’s dream of staying in her home. This was a blessing beyond measure.

Pat loved her yoga practice throughout the week and golfed twice a week right up to last season. She was an example to her family that aging with healthy eating, well-supplemented nutrition, and following a routine of daily activity enabled her to enjoy vitality into her 90’s.

Pat leaves a large and loving family. Each one will carry the memory of this musical matriarch into their own lives. Hopefully, not only will they reflect Pat’s love of life and family and the home she stoically recreated, but they will also share and reflect the strong faith with which she has crafted a truly well-lived life.

A service to celebrate Pat’s life will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2pm at Cordova Bay United Church. The service will be available as a livestream and as a recording on the Cordova Bay United YouTube Channel.