Patricia Elizabeth Schrauwen

It is with profound sadness that Patricia Elizabeth Schrauwen escaped this mortal realm on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at the age of 72, after a lengthy illness.  Her birth on January 10, 1951, in Vernon, BC was celebrated by parents Ian and Geraldine (Dena) Garven and her older sister.  She is survived by her husband, Victor, daughter Victoria, her dog, Charlie, her sister, Georgia (Robert) Baines, several nieces and nephews and her oldest child-hood friend, Corky Hartley.

Patricia was the Grand Daughter of Richard W. Neil, who came to Priest’s Valley (Vernon) in 1886 at the age of 18, originating from Arnprior, Ontario.  Her father, Ian Garven, was the Vernon City Administrator from 1951 until his death in February of 1968.

After graduating high-school in 1969, Pat attended the Patricia Stevens School of Modeling in Vancouver, BC.  On her return to Vernon, BC, she was employed at the Vernon School Board Office as a switch board operator.

It was at this time she had a desire to learn to fly and earned her Private Pilot’s License in August of 1972.  She immediately went on to earn her float endorsement and soloed at Mabel Lake. During her ground school training she caught the eye of her Ground School instructor, the ‘man-of-her-dreams’ and main squeeze, Victor, and married him in September of 1973.  Proud to be Mrs. Patricia Schrauwen, she earned the title of Grand Diva of All Things Domestic.  Pat left the City of Vernon to live on an acreage on the north side of Armstrong, BC, which became known as Alderson Creek Ranch. With little or no farm experience, she was soon driving tractor, cutting and baling hay, caring for a multitude of farm creatures, assisting with calving in the spring and mending many fences.  

A small grass airstrip was developed on the farm which was used for recreational flying.  Lovers of vintage aviation, Pat and Vic re-built a derelict 1940’s bi-plane with the help of close aviation friends.  It took seven long years to complete the project and, on the test-flight, it flew like a home-sick angel.

In the 1990’s, Patricia was selected as the area Air Deputy for Central BC with the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP Air).  She participated in three major searches for missing aircraft held out of Kamloops and Kelowna search headquarters.  As a volunteer, she was responsible in recruiting local pilots and crews and facilitating the required training to perform the task of searching in a safe manner.

Patricia fondly reminisced about her childhood spent on the west side of Mabel Lake, where her Mother, Geraldine, and sister, Georgia, camped for five summers on the beach, in an old Army Tent until her Dad, Ian, and then future brother-in-law, Robert, built a cabin.  As an adult, Pat continued to enjoy summers on Mabel Lake boating and beach combing, quadding on the back forestry roads with her daughter, Victoria, and eventually expanding and developing her slice of beachfront, with her husband, on the east side of Mabel Lake.

Pat was a kindred spirit in her love for nature and animals.  As a passionate dog lover, Pat considered all her animals to be members of the family.  Together they would accompany her on the many trips to her cabin on Mabel Lake where they forged some of their most lasting memories.

No buildings named after her, no monuments erected in her honour but she did have the chance to know and love each and every friend and all her family members.  How much more blessed can a person be.  Please don’t cry because Pat is gone, instead be happy that she was here. Okay, maybe cry just a bit, after all, she has passed away.  You can look for Patricia in the evening sunsets or in the new life of spring.

Following her wishes, there will not be a service.  The family will receive friends and family in a private gathering at a later date.  Memorial donations can made in Patricia’s name to your local SPCA.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-546-7237

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: