Obituary of Patricia Ann Holmlund

Born on 1 August 1933 on the family farm near Loreburn, Sk., to Wilbert Lyman Peardon and Sarah Jane (Dodds). The youngest of 14 children, Patricia’s memories suggested an almost idyllic childhood: within a community that later offered no end of entertaining tales and compassionate interest; surrounded by a close-knit extended family, but most importantly, with a much-beloved mother to emulate. 
Career options for women then were few; Patricia went into nursing only because she thought her parents wanted it.  She graduated from City Hospital, class of 55A. That same year she married Blaine Holmlund of Outlook.
Their meeting years earlier, outside of church one Sunday, proved fortunate for both.  Their marriage was a true partnership, and an abiding commitment.  They moved to Regina, Calgary, and Chalk River prior to returning to Saskatoon where Blaine accepted a position with the University of Saskatchewan.  Patricia was resolved to begin a family right away, and they did, having four children together: James, Kim, Cheryl, and Mona.  Four others were added through marriage: Linda, Debra, Ronald and Richard; as eventually, were seven grandchildren: Russell, Arwen, Laurelin (Byron), Mark, Eric (Anna), Zoë and Elinor.  
Patricia chose to stay at home and created for her family memories of warmth and celebration.  Huge extended family dinners were the norm for Thanksgiving and Christmas; but all holidays had their special routine, decoration, and menu.  Once her children were grown but still near, “Sunday Night Supper” became the weekly event. 
An avid reader, Patricia audited a university course in children’s literature and read aloud to her children every night.  The house was filled with books.  Camping trips were features of every summer; visits from, or trips to, her closest sister’s family, frequent.
She returned to outside employment only once, as a school nurse testing sight and hearing.  But she was, in every meaningful respect, an unpaid employee of the University throughout Blaine’s career there.  She was an insightful and thorough reader of every report and speech written by him, was ever his best advisor and a necessary confidant.  As he neared, and then took, early retirement, they were able to travel.  She had loved the sabbatical year they spent in Scotland.  But that was also the year which later proved to be the start of late-onset, slow progressing MS, which in her last year left Patricia effectively immobile.
Intelligent, witty, creative, determined and passionate, Patricia was fiercely protective of those she loved. Hers was the type of life often unnoticed by history, and perhaps easily unremarked. But her achievements were quietly essential: she was the warp in our family weaving, its constant and necessary strength and support.  
Patricia died suddenly on 31 December 2018.  At her request, there will be no funeral. She was predeceased by her husband, by nine of her siblings; and is survived by siblings Lyman, June, Glenn, and Mona; by her children and their families. 
Her family would like to thank the staff of Home Care, particularly Glenda; medical staff at St. Paul’s and City Hospital; and especially, Celine Redl – a true friend and an answered prayer.