Obituary of Patricia McFee

Patricia Viola (Giffin) McFee,74, of near Embrun, succumbed to a long battle with pancreatitis and diabetes, January 21, 2017, at the General Campus of the Ottawa Hospital. Pat (or PeeVee as her granddaughters call her) was born on August 20, 1942 in Brockville to Edward and Mabel (Burt) Giffin. After teacher's college at Queen's University in Kingston and a stint as a teacher in Manitoba, she married Eric G. McFee Jr. (now deceased) and settled down to raise a family, first in Vanier, then in Limoges, Ontario. She opened her swimming pool to the community and taught her neighbors (adults and children) how to swim. She was heavily involved in volunteer organizations, especially the Guides and Scouts Canada movements where she regaled a generation of kids with stories and songs, even though she was tone-deaf. In her 50's Pat went back to university where she eventually graduated with a BA in psychology, sociology andcriminologyand started the development of her Skills Strong Program. This program was implemented for young offenders while she was Program Director at Fairbairn house in Ottawa, and has since been adapted for at-risk kids in group homes and schools,as well as for children on the autism spectrum. She touched many lives andis survived by her children Meaghan (Philippe), Eric Arthur (Amanda) and Michael Edward (Ken), as well as the two shining lights of her life, her granddaughters, Brianne and Jayden. A gathering in celebration of her life will be held at the LafleurFuneral Home and Chapel, 874 Notre Dame, Embrun, on February 4th, from 10 a.m., followed by a service of remembrance at 11 a.m. Celebration of Life Saturday, February 4, 2017 11:00 am-11:00 am Casselman-Chapelle de la Maison funéraire Lamarche & Hill Funeral Home Chapel 709 rue Principal Street Casselman Ontario K0A1M0 Visitation Saturday, February 4, 2017 10:00 am-11:00 am Funeral Home