Patricia 'Sis' (Roach) Grezel
Born In: New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: New Victoria, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: January 25th, 2012
It is with deep sadness that we, the family, announce the passing of Patricia Josephine ‘Sis’ (Roach) Grezel, 78, of New Victoria, formerly of River Ryan on Jan. 25, 2012 at home.
Born and raised on Roaches Road, New Waterford, she was a daughter of the late John ‘Jack’ and Florence (Johnston) Roach.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Paul; sons, David (Pat Hanson), River Ryan, Rob (Roxanne), Wicklow, Ont., Paul Joe (Charmaine, Nathan and Alexander Hogan), New Waterford; daughters, Isabel (Hans Zimmermann), Calgary, Pattie-Anne (Doug MacLeod), River Ryan, Irene (Stephen Read), Marion Bridge, Teresa (Patrick MacLeod), New Waterford, Marguerite (Lawrence Peckham), Hubley, N.S.; grandchildren, Stephen, Krystle, April, Robert, Jennifer, Danielle, Michael, Kristen, Bradley, Paul, Daniel, Nelson and Dawson; step-grandchildren Tara, Marc, Alison, Corey, Michael; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Jackson, Hailey, Kaylee, Cameron, Madison, Nevaeh, Ryane, Leland, Miley; brothers Rob(Nicki), Bernard (Madge), Anthony (Pat); sisters, Bernadine (Gerry), Carm (Bob); dear friends, Rose (Torchy) Miles and family, Florence MacPherson, Phil Henessey.
Pat was predeceased by sisters, Caroline, Teresa, Maime and brothers, Jay, Johnny, Earl and Matt.
She was a member of the former Mount Carmel parish, currently the Parish Church of St. Leonard.
Pat spoke often of her days working for the nuns in New Waterford and Sydney where she cooked meals for many. Rather than prepare her for the religious life (she had planned on becoming a sister), it prepared her for cooking for the eight children she would later have.
Pat left school in grade eight, but continued to educate herself about world and local events. She learned to challenge and question anything that didn’t make sense to her. This skill proved useful many times over the years in her business and volunteer work. In later years she took up correspondence studies and proudly achieved a grade 12 equivalency. She took creative writing courses and painting classes. Family and friends were the recipients of hand painted crafts and holiday cards over the years. Her children would laugh when she would sign her cards with “Mom and Dad Grezel” as if we wouldn’t know their last name!
She was a community volunteer, activist and founding member of Sydney Harbour Fortifications Society which saved and restored Fort Petrie military museum in New Victoria. This became a popular tourist destination as well as an employer of many local residents over the years. Never willing to wait for someone else to do the work, she along with her husband Paul, worked tirelessly to make others aware of the important history of the New Waterford area and the potential of the community. She was humbled by an opportunity to speak at the Temple Sons of Israel Synagogue in Sydney about her work at the museum.
For many years she was a stay at home mom who spent many hours sewing and baking. Pat was the mother of eight and considered a mother figure to many. Her children have particularly fond memories of the stuffed dolls and toys she used to make us as kids, and who could forget the matching green dresses the girls wore in the school’s Irish concert when we first moved to Lingan!
She owned and operated River Ryan Campground for 30 years and proudly represented Nova Scotia in Tourism. A believer in justice and dignity of all, she fought hard to support those in need. She could never turn her back on the humanity of a person even when many others would.
Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 27 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. A funeral mass of celebration for Pat will take place Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Avenue, New Waterford. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Carmel Center, New Waterford.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Hospice/Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton, Canadian Cancer Society or Fort Petrie Military Museum.
Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
