In memory of
Patricia Bartlett-Richards
February 28, 1942 -
July 7, 2020
Patricia Bartlett-Richards (nee Harrison)
The family of Patricia Bartlett-Richards is deeply saddened to announce that Patricia died peacefully in Toronto on July 7, 2020, at the age of 78.
Pat will be lovingly remembered by her brothers Bob (Janet), Bill (Jana), and Don (Jewell), and by her sister Shirley (Clark Burgess). She was predeceased by her brother David (Susan), and her sister Mary (Bryce Hawkins), as well as by her loving partner, George Richards. She was a proud ‘Auntie Pat’ to her many nieces and nephews, and will be dearly missed by all of them.
Patricia will be remembered for her nurturing, helping spirit and for her commitment to developing others. She came from the humblest of beginnings, born in a northern Ontario country town. As the eldest of seven siblings, she played an active role in caring for her brothers and sisters and in her early years, took on many responsibilities at home.
As a teen, she moved to Toronto with her family and she began her career in banking soon after. In her long career with the Toronto Dominion Bank, she took on many executive roles in recruiting and training, and later engaged in consulting. Those who worked with her described Pat as “smart, energetic and full of mischief…fiercely loyal to her many friends, but could also be bluntly irreverent when necessary”.
Over her lifetime, Pat was devoted to helping others in her community at home and abroad. She was a passionate member of The Rotary Club. Patricia was a very spiritual and artistic person. She loved to create art and poetry and many of the proceeds from her art shows went to the Rotary Club’s Trails Youth Initiatives.
Her enthusiasm for life and helping others also took her on many travels around the world. One of her personal achievements was time spent climbing in the Himalayas in her fiftieth year. Inspired by the healing power of hugs, Patricia helped to create a Care Shed for relatives of AIDS patients in India.
Family and friends all have fond memories of Patricia, Pat, or Auntie Pat held close to them in their hearts. She will always be remembered for sending her hugs to family and friends around the world by way of notes, emails, long-distance calls and her patented “telephone hug”. In 2007, Patricia wrote a memoir, entitled “Whimsy and Joy. Thoughts on Life in Art and Poetry.” In it we can find some the greatest insights into her wonderful life experiences. The following are some excerpts of her own words:
“I have been blessed. It is a love of living. It is living love.”