Obituary of Pat Wood

In Memory of Pat Wood

March 12, 1947 – November 1, 2021

With much sadness, we announce the sudden passing of Pat (Patricia) Ann Wood in Dawson Creek, BC on Monday, November 1, 2021 at the age of 74.

Pat was predeceased by her parents Horace and Lillian (Rowley) Wood; her son Stanley Yakabuski and daughter Marnie Yakabuski; and sister Audrey (Bergeron); and brothers Alvin, Kenneth, and Wayne.

Pat will be lovingly remembered by her best friend and son Christopher Yakabuski and granddaughters Payton and Payge of Dawson Creek, BC; Stanley’s boys ~ grandsons Max and Lex of Calgary, AB; former husband Richard Yakabuski; brother Gerald (Florence) Wood of Moose Jaw, SK; sister-in-law’s Doreen (Wayne); Barb (Kenneth); Mary (Alvin); and brother-in-law Norm (Audrey) and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.   

Pat was born in Medicine Hat, AB and educated and graduated from Irvine High School in Irvine, AB.  In 1967 Pat moved from Irvine to Edmonton to take hair dressing school and this is where she met Richard.  After her schooling they married in December of 1967.  They welcomed their first child, Marnie in 1968 and in 1970 moved to Grande Prairie, AB where Stanley was born that same year.  From here they moved to Dawson Creek, BC where there were more supports provided for Marnie and they welcomed their third child Christopher in 1974. 

Pat’s life was her children and when she wasn’t busy running to town from the farm 2-3 times a day for hockey, skiing, soccer and football she was caring for Marnie, which was a full time job in itself.  Once the boys got more independent and more supports were provided for Marnie, Pat started working for Gorton’s and Ashwell’s Doctors office in Dawson Creek working the front desk and continued to do the billing when the office changed hands until she retired in 2014.  She mentored and met many wonderful people while working this job and gained life-long friends.    

There was nothing that Pat wouldn’t do for her children, she was a wonderful mom and her losing Stanley and most recently Marnie impacted her tremendously. For the many lives that Pat touched, one always knew where they stood with Pat and when she loved you, there was no greater love.  She was a feisty force to be reckoned with and under that tough exterior, she was very thoughtful, kind and caring and gave great honest advice – whether it was what you wanted to hear or not. She was a confidante and friend who could talk for hours to soothe a persons’ soul over a good glass of wine. She had a love for animals, especially dogs ~ whether they were her own or a stray, she took them in.  She was a strong pillar of our family who loved to laugh, make memories with her children, grandchildren and family and she will be sorely missed.  Her spirit lives on in all of us.

A Celebration Of Life will be held on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 5:00 pm at the home of Chris Yakabuski.  Please join Chris, Payton and Payge to honor their Mom/Gramma Pat Wood and their Sister/Aunt Marnie Yakabuski by sharing your beautiful memories of these two loved ones For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Pat to the BC SPCA South Peace Branch (Dawson Creek), 11418 3rd Street, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4L5, Canada.