PATRICK KELLERMAN

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PATRICK KELLERMAN Peacefully, after living with multiple sclerosis for twenty years, and embracing the process of his own dying, William James Patrick Kellerman, 45 years old, died on Sunday, January 11, 2004 in Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg. His circle of love and support include his partner Deborah Stienstra; their children, Rebecca and Cailum; his mother Marion Kellerman Kerans; his stepfather Patrick Kerans; his siblings, Karen and her partner Ron Jeffrey, Maureen, Joanne and her partner Michael McBane, Robert and his wife Heather Kellerman, and Lyn Kerans and her partner James Hubbard; Murray Angus his brother-in-law; Deborahs parents and siblings, Trudy and Dick Stienstra, Wendy, Margo, Michael and his wife Carrie, Daphne and her husband Jack Nemeth, and Carolyn and her partner Art Turner and his 17 nieces and nephews. His circle also includes many friends and colleagues across Canada. Patrick was defined by his imagination, humour and love for those around him, including those providing care for him. He captivated children with his stories, including the compilation "Me and the Great Kazoo". For the past five years he focused on his book Writing on the Inside of My Eyelids. Tom Stroud organized a circle of faithful scribes and readers including Loc Lu, Jodi Proctor, Lindsey Troschuk and others and the family is grateful for their work. Patrick was also a shrewd policy analyst seeking to understand and explain the world around him. He worked at Disabled Peoples International until his retirement due to MS, but he continued to do research with Deborah on policies related to people with disabilities. He worked as an activist supporting an inclusive and accessible home care system. The family deeply appreciates the work of those who have provided care to Patrick over his life, including from Home Care: Jeff, Felix, Norm, Diane (and many others) Dr. Mike Dillon and others at Klinic; Marilyn, Eveline, Madeleine (and many others) at Centre Tache and Linda and Heather among others at Victoria Hospital. We will celebrate Patricks life at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14 at St. Pauls Anglican Church, 830 North Dr., Winnipeg. In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the W. J. Patrick Kellerman Disability Studies Scholarship Fund at the University of Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 14, 2004