Obituary for Patrick Creegan
Patrick Creegan
Our beloved Patrick Creegan, of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully at The Salvation Army, Agapé Hospice on Friday, February 26, 2021.
Patrick was a loving, devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his wife Isabel to whom he was married to for 64 years beautiful years. He was blessed with daughters Melodie (Steve/John), Celeste (Ron) and Paula (Tom). He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Kyla (Felice), Daniel (Sam), Jacob (Christine), Amanda (Lane), Michelle, Ryan (Torin), Erin, Corey (Marisa), numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces & nephews and many wonderful friends.
Pat spent his early life on the family farm outside of North Battleford, SK, before attending town school in Battleford at age 13. The youngest of 5 children, Pat was often left to his own devices on the farm and often said that he was a kindred spirit to the boy from WO Mitchells ‘Who has seen the Wind’. He loved animals in every shape and size and was a naturalist before anyone knew what that was. His father taught him to swim at a young age in the Battle River and he passed that skill onto his three daughters. He was an avid reader and devoured any book that he came across, much to the chagrin of his wife Isabel who felt he could spend the time on the “to do” list.
After finishing High School and looking for adventure, he travelled west to Trail B.C., where his brother Francis (Frank) and his wife Leda and their family lived. He soon got a job at the mine and lived in Trail with his brother for two years before moving back to North Battleford. Pat’s second love behind Isabel soon became the railroad, specifically the Canadian National Railway where he joined working on the chain gain after moving back to the Prairies. He met Isabel while in Star City, SK while working as a baggage handler and the love affair began. They soon wed and moved around western Canada making their home in Prince Albert, Regina, Winnipeg, Regina (again), Vancouver, Calgary, Peace River and finally Edmonton. With every move came a promotion and after 30 years with the railway found Pat finally retiring in Edmonton as Senior Grain Development Officer Western Region and then moving to Calgary to be with his daughters and their husbands in Calgary.
Patrick had many gifts, and for those fortunate to have known him would say he had “stature amongst us” and that Pat himself was a gift. A gift that enriched the lives of anyone who knew him.
Patrick will be fondly remembered for: his ability to recount just about any aspect of his 85 years of life (which usually related back to a life lesson or story of one sort or another); his gift of sharing laughter through jokes or his retelling of an event/experience; his ability to make one feel special/loved whether he just met you or had known you all his life; his strength of conviction for what is just and right; his sense of adventure & discovery traversing near and far; his voracious thirst for knowledge all things great and small, whether it be spiritual and/or intellectual he would find great joy in the recounting/ sharing and/or educating; his appetite to share a good glass of scotch (several tall tales) and great food (no matter what time it was served); his endless love to connect and give back; his belief in a universal God and that everyone mattered - there is good in everyone. May we have the fortitude to take what he has brought to each of us and pay it forward.
It has been a blessing and a privilege to have had him in our lives. We are all richer for having known him.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Agapé Hospice for all their loving care and support and giving Pat an audience for some of his jokes and the sharing of laughter during his last weeks with us. It truly was a blessing to have him at Agapé.
AGAPÉ: A Greek terminology meaning unconditional selfless love. A fitting place to be for his last days with us.
To pass on condolences, to share memories and photos of your time with Patrick, please visit https://www.choicememorial.com/obituaries
In lieu of gifts we are asking that you graciously donate to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a local food bank in your area or to the Salvation Army Agapé Hospice.
There will be a celebration of life, details to follow at a later date. God bless and thank you for sharing your love of Pat with us.
Our beloved Patrick Creegan, of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully at The Salvation Army, Agapé Hospice on Friday, February 26, 2021.
Patrick was a loving, devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his wife Isabel to whom he was married to for 64 years beautiful years. He was blessed with daughters Melodie (Steve/John), Celeste (Ron) and Paula (Tom). He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Kyla (Felice), Daniel (Sam), Jacob (Christine), Amanda (Lane), Michelle, Ryan (Torin), Erin, Corey (Marisa), numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces & nephews and many wonderful friends.
Pat spent his early life on the family farm outside of North Battleford, SK, before attending town school in Battleford at age 13. The youngest of 5 children, Pat was often left to his own devices on the farm and often said that he was a kindred spirit to the boy from WO Mitchells ‘Who has seen the Wind’. He loved animals in every shape and size and was a naturalist before anyone knew what that was. His father taught him to swim at a young age in the Battle River and he passed that skill onto his three daughters. He was an avid reader and devoured any book that he came across, much to the chagrin of his wife Isabel who felt he could spend the time on the “to do” list.
After finishing High School and looking for adventure, he travelled west to Trail B.C., where his brother Francis (Frank) and his wife Leda and their family lived. He soon got a job at the mine and lived in Trail with his brother for two years before moving back to North Battleford. Pat’s second love behind Isabel soon became the railroad, specifically the Canadian National Railway where he joined working on the chain gain after moving back to the Prairies. He met Isabel while in Star City, SK while working as a baggage handler and the love affair began. They soon wed and moved around western Canada making their home in Prince Albert, Regina, Winnipeg, Regina (again), Vancouver, Calgary, Peace River and finally Edmonton. With every move came a promotion and after 30 years with the railway found Pat finally retiring in Edmonton as Senior Grain Development Officer Western Region and then moving to Calgary to be with his daughters and their husbands in Calgary.
Patrick had many gifts, and for those fortunate to have known him would say he had “stature amongst us” and that Pat himself was a gift. A gift that enriched the lives of anyone who knew him.
Patrick will be fondly remembered for: his ability to recount just about any aspect of his 85 years of life (which usually related back to a life lesson or story of one sort or another); his gift of sharing laughter through jokes or his retelling of an event/experience; his ability to make one feel special/loved whether he just met you or had known you all his life; his strength of conviction for what is just and right; his sense of adventure & discovery traversing near and far; his voracious thirst for knowledge all things great and small, whether it be spiritual and/or intellectual he would find great joy in the recounting/ sharing and/or educating; his appetite to share a good glass of scotch (several tall tales) and great food (no matter what time it was served); his endless love to connect and give back; his belief in a universal God and that everyone mattered - there is good in everyone. May we have the fortitude to take what he has brought to each of us and pay it forward.
It has been a blessing and a privilege to have had him in our lives. We are all richer for having known him.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Agapé Hospice for all their loving care and support and giving Pat an audience for some of his jokes and the sharing of laughter during his last weeks with us. It truly was a blessing to have him at Agapé.
AGAPÉ: A Greek terminology meaning unconditional selfless love. A fitting place to be for his last days with us.
To pass on condolences, to share memories and photos of your time with Patrick, please visit https://www.choicememorial.com/obituaries
In lieu of gifts we are asking that you graciously donate to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a local food bank in your area or to the Salvation Army Agapé Hospice.
There will be a celebration of life, details to follow at a later date. God bless and thank you for sharing your love of Pat with us.