With great sadness we announce the passing of Patricia Desrochers on April 5, 2022.
Pat was born on September 25, 1939, to Helmer Emmanuel and Flossie Fay Fisk in Rainy River. She attended McRossen Tovell School in Bergland, Ontario, until grade ten, and then returned to get her diploma at Atikokan High School in 1990.
Pat met her husband Andre Desrochers when she was about 17. They were married December 30, 1958, and settled in Atikokan after a few short stints in various bush camps and Fort Frances. Pat loved the community of Atikokan, with all her friends and family.
Pat had four children, Don (April 3, 1960), Stephen (November 26, 1961), Blaine (June 13, 1964), and Kristi (October 11, 1975).
Pat loved sports and played baseball until she was thirty-nine. She loved swimming and fishing, and she would just jump out in the middle of the lake and swim for hours. She loved bowling and played volleyball even into her seventies. Pat always supported her children’s sports and she could be seen at the ballpark to watch all of Kristi’s ball games.
She had a full work life. She was a waitress, at a restaurant named Iver’s Grill where she first met her husband. She worked at the Country Kitchen, then went to cook at the Steep Rock Inn. She spent many seasons tree planting, which was her favourite job because of her love for the outdoors. She worked for home support and drove the handi-van until her retirement in 2003.
Pat is survived by her children Don (Anne), Stephen (Norma), Blaine (Denise), and Kristi; grandchildren Andrew (Karina) Desrochers, Matthew (Mandy) Desrochers, Michael Desrochers, Melissa (Mark) Kolle, Patricia (Josh) Driedger, Andie and James Langner; step-grandchildren Natosha and Karri Selski; great-grandchildren Noah, Thomas, Emily and Allison and step-great-grandchildren Alexa and Raiden. Pat is also survived by her brothers Conrad, Donald, and Jerry Fisk; and her sisters Gwen Jensen and Janice Abstreiter.
She was pre-deceased by her parents Helmer and Flossie Fisk; husband Andre Desrochers; partner Derald Gill; sister Joan Ruck; and son-in-law Corey Langner.
A service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church (410 O’Brien St., Atikokan) on Friday, April 22, at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #145 Hall from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Atikokan, where Pat was a member for over forty years.
