MARY PATRICIA MASTERS

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MARY PATRICIA MASTERS (nee McNAMARA) April 8, 1918 - August 26, 2012 Predeceased by her husband John and her grandson Troy. Mum leaves to mourn for her, one brother William (Bill), her sons, Michael, Richard (Leslie) and daughter Jane (David); eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Mum was born in England, the seventh of ten children. She survived the hardships of the great depression and served in the British Army during the Second World War. It was then that Pat met her husband John, a sapper in the Royal Canadian Engineers while he was stationed in England. They married there and John brought her home to his farm in Petersfield, Manitoba. To help make ends meet, Pat worked as a medical secretary at the S.M.H.C. Mum drove to work in all kinds of weather. She even received an award one time from her colleagues of a set of wings, after her car took flight and flew across a ditch. Mum loved her little car that always got her to work on time. John died in August of 1965. During the winter of 1965-66, Mum packed her three children, cat, dog and TV into her 58 Ford and drove to Montreal where she found immediate work as a legal and medical secretary. She then returned to England in 1969 and in 1970 bought a house in Streatham, where she lived for many years. Her husband John had always wanted to make a resort out of the farm as it bordered Netley and Wavey Creeks. Her son Richard shared his father's dream and returned to Manitoba in 1979 and aided Mum in development of the property. In 1987 Pat formed the Masters Development Company, which is equally owned by her and her three children. It was Mum's wish that the Seasonal Resort be called Pajo Mirija originating from the first two letters of her family's first names, Pat, John, Michael, Richard, Jane. Pat travelled back and forth spending summers here and winters in England. She sold her house in Streatham and moved to Petersfield, Hampshire, England in 1989. She now lived in Petersfield no matter what country she was in. Mum was a brave woman, and she will always be remembered by friends and loved ones for the many interesting stories she had to tell of her life. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. Mum was interred at the Peteresfield Church Cemetery in Petersfield, England on September 10, 2012. Her daughter Jane with her family and her son Michael attending. A Memorial Service will be held on October 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. George's Wakefield Anglican Church in Petersfield with Archdeacon Godfrey Mawejje officiating. A Luncheon will be served at the Church after the service.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 13, 2012