Pat Vezina

Jun 4, 1931 -

Feb 23, 2025

Pat was born in Wallsend, Northumberland, England, the only child of loving parents, Clement and Constance Boothroyd. She grew up in Jesmond, just outside Newcastle and was evacuated for a short time during WWII, before returning home to spend the duration of the war with her parents.

After the war, Pat attending nursing school at Leeds General Infirmary, graduating as a midwife. She worked as a midwife in Newcastle, but having lost both parents by her early 20s, emigrated to Canada, living with her great friends Edwina and Neville Mallinson. While in Toronto she became friends with Emilie Cheshire, who she remained in touch with until her death.

Emigrating to Alaska in December 1959, Pat met one of her closest friends, Erma Martin, a fellow nurse, on her first day in Alaska. They too remained friends until her death.

Pat worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery at old, then "new" Providence. After marrying and taking time off for two children of her own, she returned to nursing at Providence, where she worked for 28 years before her retirement in 1996. She was proud of the B.S. in nursing she earned from Chapman University in 1987.

Pat was always a proud Englishwoman, never losing her love of her home country and the beauty of Northumberland, especially its beaches. She also had an abiding love for the beauty of Alaska, enjoying walks on Homer's beaches, picking berries at Sheep Mountain Lodge, buying garden flowers in the Matanuska Valley or having lunch with a friend at Summit Lake Lodge.

Pat was a committed Newcastle United football fan, avidly keeping up with their matches with her son John. She was pleased he was able to go to two matches in Newcastle lately, one with the grandson and great-grandson of her childhood friend Edwina. It comes as no surprise she waited to die until Newcastle had beaten Nottingham Forest on the day of her death, or that her children found autographs from Newcastle's 1946-47 team in her belongings.

At 93, Pat texted her children and friends like a teenager, including emojis and expressions of love until the night before her death. Her family and friends will miss her love of books, MSNBC, Jeopardy, Channel 2 News and streaming programs she'd review with the insights of a television critic. Her family is relieved she no longer has to live in a county governed by the White House's current inhabitant.

Pat is survived by her two loving children, John and Karen (Scott Evers), and close friends she made during her 65 years in Alaska. They plan a memorial service in summer 2025.

Memorial gifts may be made to Planned Parenthood of Alaska or Hospice of Anchorage.