Obituary of Patricia Ann Hitchen

Patricia Ann Hitchen 1939 - 2014 Patricia Ann Hitchen most commonly known as Pat Hitchen was born on June 24, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan to Roy and Sarah Mills. Pat took after her mother Sarah and learned how to pray at a very young age. Pat loved to work with her hands alongside her dad Roy at an early age learning and gaining knowledge of woodwork which in her later years came in handy helping around the house and she enjoyed sharing her knowledge whenever there was work bees at her local church. In Pats teenage years she became a lifeguard, Sunday school teacher and Jr leader at Camp Imadene the Christian camp where she gave her life to the Lord at the age of 12. Pat at 16 helped around the family home working and taking care of her younger sister and brother while her beloved father spent his last years alive, losing her dad at 18 broke her heart but taught her to give to others when she thought of her dad, because her dad use to quote "don't feel sorry for yourself when I die or visit the grave yard go do something for someone in need." While working outside the home at Babco paint she fell in love with a young handsome man (John) who became her husband of 55 years. Pat was very lucky to be a stay at home mom keeping herself busy with church functions, driving her children to Sunday school picking up many neighbour children who wanted to come to Sunday school. Pat belonged to the Shirley WI and was well known for her jellyrolls. Pat loved being involved in 4-H being a 4-H club leader and going to all the fairs helping her children with their 4-H projects and learning how to bring first place ribbons home. In 1980 Pat and her husband John decided to move north to fulfill her husband's dreams for a bigger farm and to be closer to their adult children. Returning to some of her favorite things getting involved with the community church (Peace Mission Chapel) using her skills helping to build the Church, involved in ladies fellowship, Dare to Care, being a pray warrior for her family, friends and others who came across her path. Pat for many years helped in the community at Groundbirch WI, served at many weddings sharing her homemade buns, ran the gate at Kiskatinaw Fall Fair and entered all her flowers and vegetables, taking home many ribbons. Pat loved to sew and knit in the winter months, knitting many socks, sewing radio bags to go overseas to spread the gospel. She also belonged to the McLeod Country quilters club making beautiful quilts for her family. One of Pats favorite times of the year was Christmas when it came to retrieving the tree from the woods, making lasting family memories or having fun with the community, acting in the local pageants. Pat passed away on February 3, 2014 in Progress, British Columbia at 74 years of age. She is survived by her loving husband John Hitchen, her children Thomas (Kathleen) Hitchen, Charles (Cheryl) Hitchen and Susan (Arden) Sipe, her grandchildren Jaymee and Zachary Hitchen, Daniel Hitchen, Trevor (Candace) Sipe, Melinda (Neil) Girard, Arlene (Silupe) Sipe and Sarah (Brad) Peters, her great-grandchildren Tanner, Katelyn, Layton, Allison, Amelia, Quinten, Savanna and Samuel. She is also survived by Roy Mills, Martha Wilson, Amelia Hitchen and Momma Pat to Marlene. Pat is also a sister in-law and Auntie to many. Pat is predeceased by her parents Roy and Sarah Mills, Ruth Petersen and Donald Mills. A funeral service was held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 2:00pm at the Peace Mission Chapel, Progress, British Columbia. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Pat may be made to the Peace Mission Chapel P.O. Box 100, Progress, British Columbia V0C 2E0.