Mary Patricia MacArthur

 (but you can call her Pat)

Pat MacArthur was born into a loud and lively home in Mimico in 1938. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 28th at age 87. Pat idolized her late father, James Fitzhenry – a union leader who loved baseball. Pat adopted this passion as a young child and went on to pitch for the Air Force team at Downsview Airport, even though she was never a member of the Air Force – her curveball was that good! Pat’s late mother Irene made the best pies and had her hands full raising her and her four siblings: Herbie (Shirley), Harry (Shirley), Shirley (Dave) and Suzie (Ben), who all pre-deceased her.

Pat was an avid swimmer, spending most of her childhood days in Lake Ontario. When she was 12, her family moved up to Weston. And on her first day in her new school, she met a boy named Ed, who asked her if she knew how to play ball. She did. And nine years later, Pat married that boy. Through their 61-year marriage, Pat & Ed raised two beautiful daughters, Tracy (Fred) & Terry (Terry Boy), who in turn gave them five incredible grandkids: Tyler, Connor (Tasha), Meghan, Matthew (Tesha) and Joshua. Pat also adopted her niece Stephanie, regarding her as her third daughter. Pat’s life wasn’t without heartache – she lost her Ed on Thanksgiving Day in 2020; 10-weeks later, Tracy’s courageous battle with cancer came to an end. But Pat was blessed again last year, with the birth of her cute-as-a-button great-granddaughter, Wren.

Pat will forever be remembered as the Kool-Aid Mom on Wallasey Avenue; a coach on her daughters’ teams; organizer of weekly euchres at Riverside Emery United; an active Humberlea and Melody Road Public School community member; the snack lady at arena concessions across North York when she worked with Parks & Rec; a friendly face as a Humber River Hospital volunteer; and a heck of a bowler and card shark! Pat lived a full life, with side-splitting laughter and without regrets. We are sad and we miss her. But she has left an indelible mark on everyone who met her – and we’re all the better for having had her in our lives.

We are grateful for the care and kindness that Pat was shown from staff at The Village of Humber Heights and Humber River Hospital. A special thank you to the nurses and PSWs, who worked tirelessly to make her feel safe. In lieu of flowers, Pat and her family would greatly appreciate a donation in support of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Click here to donate to the Alzheimer Society