Comox Valley has lost a long-time resident and influential citizen.
Patricia Elaine 鈥淧at鈥� Brandon passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving husband and family at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley on Friday, June 30, at the age of 92 years. Beloved wife for the past 69 years of Rev. Ray Brandon, both of whom are Ministers Emeritus of St. George鈥檚 United Church in Courtenay.
Since moving to the Comox Valley in 1970, Pat was deeply involved in the life of the community. In addition to raising five children, Pat was active in the life of her church - teaching Sunday School, filling leadership roles, counselling, and supporting on a daily basis the work of her husband Reverend Ray (recognized by many as a full-time job in itself). She spent years serving on behalf of youth, women, and those less fortunate in our community, country, and internationally.
Pat served 12 years on the board of the Comox Valley Recovery Centre, including five years as chairperson, when the Recovery Centre grew from a 10-bed facility to a million-dollar building housing 38 clients. Pat also served as chaplin at St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital for two years and went on to serve on the St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital board of directors for 12 years, including seven years as chairperson. During her tenure, the board was successful in securing the first CT scanner for the Comox Valley in 2001.
She was a director on the board of Mental Health during the 1970s, helping to establish a women鈥檚 centre in downtown Courtenay. Having been a cancer survivor herself, she served as chair of the Cancer Campaign in 1995, later volunteering for Can-Surmount, which now falls under the auspices of the Canadian Cancer Society, for two years. As one of the founding directors of the Comox Valley Community Foundation, Pat served on its board of directors for 3 years. She was granted the Public Service Award by the Comox town council. She was particularly honoured to have received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club in 1997 for exceptional community service, and in 2015, was recognized by the City of Courtenay as one of its Citizens of the Century.
Pat will long be remembered for her boundless creativity and imagination as well as her deep appreciation of the arts - a storyteller extraordinaire, a source of endless amusement for the children in her life and adults alike. More than anything else, Pat was devoted to her family beyond measure, providing valuable guidance with her children鈥檚 education at every opportunity.
She also helped to establish and lead the first Parent Study Group sponsored by School District 71. Her generosity was remarkable, opening her home to all people, especially those in less fortunate circumstances. Particularly important in her life were Hein and Phuong Truong who were lovingly welcomed into her home for several years as Vietnamese refugees.
The impact of her compassion, strength of spirit, generosity of heart and genuine kindness was profound. She loved people and was able to see the good in everyone - always leaving people and places somehow better than when she found them, ever inspiring through her positivity and wisdom. Difficult times were made more endurable and even enjoyable through Pat鈥檚 wit and humour. Pat鈥檚 deep commitment to 鈥渕aking a difference鈥� was the motivating force behind her involvement in so many areas of Valley life.
