Patricia (Leth) Abbott was born on February 24, 1938, in Vancouver, BC. Her father, Peter Leth, emigrated from Denmark at the age of 18, while her mother, Vera Wiatkin, hailed from rural Saskatchewan and was raised in Vancouver.

Patsy attended Queen Mary Elementary School and Lord Byng Secondary School in Point Grey before graduating from UBC in 1960.

In October 1960, Patsy married Bill Abbott (BEd’72), whom she had met during their first-year physical education course at UBC, a required class for all students. That autumn, they both began teaching at a high school in Campbell River.

In 1965, Patsy chose to leave teaching to focus on raising her family.

They retired to West Vancouver in 1997. Patsy and Bill enjoyed 52 years of love and companionship until Bill’s passing in 2012. She missed him deeply every day. Travel was one of their shared passions, and together they explored Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.

Following Bill’s death, Patsy continued her travels independently and with family. Over the years, she revisited Denmark and embarked on her first trip to Iceland.

Her final adventure took place just last year when she revisited Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and the Grand Canyon, accompanied by her son.

Patsy maintained a lifelong interest in current events and kept a keen eye on the world around her. Patsy leaves behind a loving family: her children, David (BSc’88), Alexandra Emlyn (BSc’89), and Rob; her grandchildren, Rebecca, Kate, and Juliet; her sister, Rosemary Van Heukelom (BA’66); her nieces and nephews, Willy, Morgan, Skyler, and Holly; as well as her beloved pets, the family dog Ginger and the cats: Teddy, Theo, Rocky, and Monty.

A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Patsy passed away on February 25, 2025.