Patricia Yvonne Siemens
(Robinson), nee Danby
Siemens, Patricia Yvonne (Robinson), nee Danby passed away at Lady Minto Hospital on Saturday March 9, 2013, following a short illness. She is survived by her family: Gail and Patrick Beattie, Cindy Barclay (Andrew) and her grandsons Lee, Sam and Max. Patsy will be greatly missed by her sister Cheryl Danners (Bob) of Calgary, and her sister in law Diana McAteer (Ken) of Burnaby, her niece and nephews, her best friend Lynne Johnson (Isy Cohen) and her dear dog Winston. Predeceased by her second husband Boyd Siemens. Patsy was born May 9, 1932 in Vancouver where she met and married her first husband Ron Robinson. Together with their daughters they moved to Victoria in 1967, where Patsy returned to work first in radio at CJVI and then became Senior Editor at BC Hansard. In 1977, Patsy moved to Ottawa to pursue a career with Committee Reporting Service. All the while she worked in Ottawa Patsy continued to refer to herself as living on the coast, returning to Victoria at Christmas and each summer to resume her “real life”. In 1986 Patsy purchased a house on Salt Spring Island, and after meeting Boyd Siemens in 1990, she retired and took up full time residence here. Boyd and Patsy were married in the fall of 1991 and they travelled and golfed together until Boyd’s death in 1993. Shortly thereafter Patsy moved to her beloved custom built cottage in Fulford, sharing the acreage with Gail and Pat, and then moving in 2002 to her final home, her suite in their shared home on Wildwood Crescent. During her time on Salt Spring Patsy became a popular stage manager for local theatre productions, was active in Toastmasters, served on PARC, was the long-time chair of IWAV, and earned her reputation as Parliamentarian of choice for several island organizations. More recently she took up acrylic painting, and served as the chair of Community Education and as part of the board of Salt Spring Literacy Society, assisting her best friend Lynne with the organization and execution of the Giant Book Sale.
Patsy’s family are very grateful to the doctors and nurses at Lady Minto and Royal Jubilee Hospitals for their kindness and caring during Mom’s last days.
A celebration of Patsy’s life will be held at the Saltspring Island Sailing Club on Wednesday March 27 at 2 pm. Please join us to share stories and raise a glass of Scotch in Patsy’s honour. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, or a charity of your choice, in Patsy’s name.