Obituary of Patricia Martha Barteski

In loving memory of Patricia Martha Barteski

Sept 15, 1925 - Jan 23, 2024

Patrica (Pat) was the daughter of a Prairie pioneer and through her life made a contribution to the ever increasing prosperity of the twenty and twenty-first centuries.  She was born on September 15, 1925 in a sod house to Fred and Martha Jones on a farmstead near Silton, Saskatchewan.  She was raised on the farm until the family (three sisters and one brother) was stricken by the drought of the mid 1930's.  The family struggled through a move to Pitt Meadows, where they managed a farm.  Even until quite recently along the north end of Harris Road, a couple of the remnants of these old farm buildings still could be seen.  A farm management opportunity allowed Fred Jones to move back to the prairies and Pat enrolled in teacher's normal school in Saskatoon.  She then taught in a one room school house in the Moose Range district near Nipawin, Saskatchewan

With the start of World War 2 and enlistment of her father and brother Lloyd, the local family changed - her parents and youngest sister Gwen moved to the air base in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, while her older sisters Ivy and Grace moved to work in the USA.  Pat was left to manage their family home as a boarding house in Regina, Saskatchewan.  There she met a very attractive young man, Frank, who became her husband.  They were married on November 16, 1946 at Regina's Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church. 

When employment opportunities appeared at the Imperial Oil Refinery in Ioco and later, the Shell Oil Refinery in Burnaby, Frank, Pat, and their young family settled in Maple Ridge in 1954.   She was a dedicated elementary and kindergarten teacher for decades - first as a substitute teacher while raising their four children, and then after graduating from UBC with a teaching degree, she permanently taught at Laity View and Meadowland elementary schools.  After their retirement Pat and Frank travelled around the world - visiting all the continents and collecting a library full of memories inside picture scrap books.

Pat had a generous heart, a quick sense of humor, and was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. She loved music and the comradeship of family, relations, neighbors, school colleges, past students and of friends at church activities.  She was a woman of abiding faith and active in St. Luke's Roman Catholic church, notably as an after church "coffee time" facilitator, as a member of the CWL and the church's choir.

Pat died on January 23, 2024 as a result of complications after a fall in her apartment.  She is predeceased by her sons, Fred and Mark and is survived by her husband of 78 yrs, Frank, her son Lloyd (Lynn), her daughter Brenda, her sister Gwen, 2 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Her family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation for all the loving support from those that live at Sunwood Seniors' Residence, and members of the St. Luke and St. Patrick church parishes.  She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Luke's Catholic Church on Feb 6th at 10:00 a.m. followed by a simple reception at the church hall.  All are welcome.