Paterson, Phyllis
Paterson, Phyllis Anne (née Cavell)
January 26, 1933 - December 7, 2023Just shy of her 91st birthday, Phyllis passed away peacefully in Kitchener on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Phyllis was predeceased by her loving husband, William (Bill) George Paterson, in 2019 in their 63rd year of marriage. She was the devoted mother to Gregg (Kim), Brenda Wiegand (Michael) and Paul (Patti); and loving grandma to Trent and Neil Paterson, and Michael and Evelyn Wiegand. Born on January 26, 1933, in Owen Sound, she was the third eldest child of seven children born to Sidney and Rachel (née Bowman) Cavell. She was predeceased by her parents and siblings Bill Cavell, Joan Simmons, Marjorie Ireland and two nephews, Kenneth Cavell and Todd Ireland; She is dearly loved by her surviving siblings, Gayle (Bob) Tisdall, Kaye Cavell, and Alan (Jacqueline). She will be missed by her longtime friends, extended family, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families to whom she showed keen interest and was immensely proud of their accomplishments.
Phyllis grew up on the Cavell Farm on Cavell Sideroad in Kemble. As a child, she and her siblings walked to the one room Cavell Schoolhouse on the corner near their farm concession. In high school, she asked Bill to a Sadie Hawkins dance and eventually they married on July 21st, 1956 at Sarawak United Church. Both Phyllis and Bill graduated from Stratford Normal School and then became teachers with The Waterloo Region District School Board. Phyllis had a passion for instructing elementary age children. She taught for a number of years until she shifted her focus to raise her own three children; she returned to teaching in later years. In the midst of raising her family and working, Phyllis completed her degree from the University of Waterloo in 1985.
Over the years, Phyllis enjoyed her activities with the UCW United Church Women, PROBUS, CFUW-KW Canadian Federation of University Women, RTO and RWTO for retired teachers. Phyllis was a life long learner; she loved CBC Radio, Canadian authors, newspapers and libraries. She left behind years of daily journal writing extending back to early adult years. She came from a family filled with teachers going back several generations. She was talented at many handcrafts and she was a gifted seamstress. She and Bill enjoyed traveling, curling, bridge and gardening. Many of Phyllis and Bill’s fondest memories were of family times at their cottage for 64 years on Island View Drive of Georgian Bay not too far from: the farm Phyllis grew up on, the cottage of her in-laws Garfield and Hazel Paterson, the cottages of her sisters Marjorie (Clif) and Kaye, brother and sister-in-law Doug and Louise Legate’s cottage at Sauble Beach, and the cottages of several close friends. Everyone had many fun summers gathering and helping on the family farm and visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins up and down the cottage roads and in Owen Sound with the Paterson Clan.
Most importantly, Phyllis was a supportive and perceptive wife and mother. She was a firm believer in women’s equality. She taught her children to be well informed, insightful, and researched. She modelled critical thinking and observation, and she gave them the confidence to be successful. She gave everyone she met encouragement and a cheerful smile.
A warm thank you to the many people who supported Phyllis during her last years. A special thank you to Elizabeth, Roxanne and Eva for their deep compassion and care.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements through Passages, Guelph. A private celebration of life with immediate family will take place in the Owen Sound area in the summer. Interment will be in Owen Sound, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the final resting place of the Cavell Ancestors. Donations would be warmly appreciated to: -
Canadian Federation of University Women KW (CFUW KW) Donation to: Scholarship Fund
