Margaret "Pat" Patricia Burgess

Pat Burgess died peacefully at Crofton Manor care home in Vancouver, BC on December 5, 2025, at the age of 98. She is predeceased by her parents Peggy and Percy Dunn, husband Ronald Burgess and sister Audrey Ashley (Ronald). Pat is dearly missed by her daughter, Monica O’Brien, son-in-law, Dale, granddaughters Katie (François), Whitney, Abbey, and her great-grandson Theo.

Pat always lived near the ocean: in Vancouver near Jericho Beach, and on the northeast coast of England by the North Sea. She was an avid “cold plunger” at Jericho long before it was trendy and would always be the first one fully submerged in lakes and oceans when the family would vacation together.

Pat grew up in and around Whitburn village, England during World War II. She told us of rations and air raid shelters, but also of the happy family gatherings with all her aunts, uncles and cousins. She loved performing in the local amateur drama company, but her brush with stardom came when she met Bette Davis in London in 1951 and went on to become the president of the UK fan club.

After meeting Ron and marrying in 1959, they sailed across the Atlantic on the Empress of England and boarded the CP train from Montreal to Vancouver for Ron’s new position as a professor of Physics at UBC. When Monica, their only child, arrived, Pat stayed home with her for several years then attended UBC and earned her degrees in French and Teaching. A brief stint teaching high school French revealed that her students didn’t quite share her love of the language to the same extent, so she took further courses to become an ESL teacher at Vancouver Community College. She taught new Canadians there for many happy years.

Upon retirement, Pat avidly took up Tai Chi (we still have her sword collection!) and water colour painting. Her painting station was a favourite with Katie, Whitney, and Abbey, but they were under strict instructions to leave the good tubes of paint alone! Pat was also very active at St. Helen’s Anglican Church where she was a warden, reader, pastoral visitor, and garden club member. She was the proud recipient of the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster in recognition of her service to the church community.

Pat adored her close-knit family and doing whatever she could for them – from sewing Halloween costumes, teaching her granddaughters elocution, knitting and calligraphy, and hosting beloved Sunday night dinners. Hours were spent processing apples from the ancient tree in her backyard to make her signature tart applesauce and crisps for us.

A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful, dedicated and caring staff at Crofton Manor. In her final years there, Pat enjoyed the barbeques, beach picnics, soaking up the sun in the courtyard, and helping Monica knit hats for Theo.

We miss you, Nanny.

A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2026.