I knew Kelly Patrick only through how many of us knew her through her dedicated work for her community as a lifeguard at the Canada Games Centre.
How anyone could meet so many people and still remember their names is beyond me. That is such a gift, and Kelly displayed an amazing talent for kindness and connection with the people she worked with.
I just found out that Kelly has unexpectedly passed away and I feel such a sense of loss and sadness. My profound condolences to her family, including her two sons whom she talked so highly of to everyone and whom she clearly loved very much and was so proud of.
Also condolences to her friends and colleagues at the games centre, who must be reeling from the unexpected loss.
I pray she knew what an incredible contribution she made to the games centre and to her community; even I feel as though I’ve lost a friend, though I didn’t know her at all.
I want everyone to know that we as a community will feel her absence for some time.
My heartfelt wishes for a healthy grieving: Be angry, be sad, cry and yell as much as you need to, but know she was an amazing woman, kind and strong, a real person with real struggles.
Eventually I hope love and pride will be the feelings that prevail. May we band together as a community to ensure her legacy of dedication and her formidable talents are not soon forgotten.
Andrea Cook
Whitehorse