Tribute

Patrick Briant January 31/1932 to July 7/2012

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Pat. He had been fighting a battle with Cancer since Sept 2004. He had a relapse for a while but it finally reared its ugly head again.

Pat was predeceased by his parents & 7 brothers. He is survived by many nephews & nieces in England & Australia. He was happily married to his childhood sweetheart, Connie, for almost 60 years. They have known each other since the age of 14 & Connie attended Pat’s 16th Birthday party. They became engaged before he went into the RAF for 2 years National Service & were married in November 1952. Pat left school at age 14 & was apprenticed for 7 years eventually becoming a Master electrician. Pat & Connie emigrated to Toronto, Canada in March 1957 & unfortunately the only job he was offered was on the DEW line, which meant him going off to the northern part of Quebec on a 2 year contract, with no leave for 6 months. Connie was devastated so he turned this down. After 6 weeks of looking for work he obtained a job with the Royal Bank of Canada, first as a messenger, then as a chauffeur driving the AGM around. He later changed to driving with the Toronto Transit Commission where he held several different positions, including a few years with Gray Coach Lines where he was on Charters. He was a TTC Inspector for a time. He made many good friends on the TTC where he completed 30 years service.
When he retired he & his wife were Snowbirds & used to drive to Florida for 4 months, stopping at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on the way back. Finally after spending one winter in Toronto, we finally discovered there was a western Canada, having previously thinking that Canada ended at Niagara Falls. One of our oldest friends whom we had known since the age of 18 told us he had built a retirement home overlooking the ocean in Saltair on Vancouver Island. We flew out for a visit in May 1994, fell in love with the Island & purchased a home in the Properties of Maple Bay. After a trip to the U.K. we returned thoroughly depressed & bought a beautiful view lot on Kaspa Rd where we had our Dream house built. We enjoyed Cruising, sailed from Seattle across the Pacific to New Zealand & Australia. We also went through the Panama Canal, & across the Atlantic to Europe, plus several smaller cruises.
We love our present home & fortunately Pat was able to spend the last few weeks of his life here. The Home Care Support tem & the Nurses at VIHA were fantastic & kept him comfortable. He became very weak but peaceful & slipped away at 2.01 p.m. on Saturday July 7th with good friends & his wife, Connie, present.
Final arrangements are being handled by H.W.Wallace, 251 Jubilee street, Duncan V9L 1W8.
There will be no Funeral by request, Pat will be cremated. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation, 4-466 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan B.C. or the Canadian Cancer Society of the Charity of your choice.
There will be a Celebration of Life held in a few weeks time. Pat loved people & would want to be remembered with joy & laughter, not sadness.