Frankly, we are more than a little surprised at the passing of PATRICIA ANNE LAPLANTE in the wee hours of May 27th, 2011. Her illness was brief, which is just how she liked illnesses to be. Its brevity was a good thing, too, because she would never have had the patience to linger very long in ill-health, having told us - spanning many years - to “just ’trip’ over the plug if you have to”. So she’s gone. “Skedaddled”, as she would have said. Those of us who knew Pat / Mom felt pretty certain she would have skedaddled in a skydiving accident, or by falling off a mountain or flying off a faulty zipline or by tackling muggers more prepared than she; some activity, any activity. We even considered that she might well have had a massive heart attack after hearing one too many double negatives, or the improper use of pronouns. We were wrong. She wanted to go quickly, and that she did. Pat was madly in love with Big Al Laplante, her wonderful husband of 25 years, and could not believe her lucky stars to have found the love of her life. Pat bloomed in love, she felt secure in his love. And even after years together, when Big Al left the room, Pat would sneak on a little lipstick and run her fingers through her hair to refresh her do. Both were delighted to recently celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with tons of friends, and friends she considered family, in Mexico, their second home. Oh, how she loved her beautiful Mexico (Happy Hours included)! Pat was born in the freshness of the spring under the never-ending skies of southern Alberta. She could be totally absorbed in the beauty of the land, seeing everything she needed to see in a single fence post amid the gold of the fields. Pat had seven children before she was 30: Joan Sigmundson, Louise Berry, Paula Khan, John Komanchuk, Danny Komanchuk, Monica Komanchuk and Dale Komanchuk. Danny died as a baby, and Monica at 17: her two hazel-eyed children. At 54 she gained four step-children: Dan, Dave, Carmen and Al Junior. Pat loved being a grandparent and great-grandparent twenty-nine times over, answering to Mum-Mum, Grandma, Nani, Walkin’ Annie and Grandma L. She was also known as Sunshine, Big Red, The Old Gal and occasionally Thunder Thighs (mind you, the latter moniker was not one of her favourites, but it sure garnered a good reaction from her!). Being an only child, Pat was never called Auntie and was tickled just pink to have gathered such a large family around her. Over the years, Mom offered invaluable advice: keep your elbows in when you eat, don’t slurp (unless it’s the bottom of a chocolate milkshake), always use your manners, keep a stiff upper lip, defend your loved ones, support your kids, forget the bad stuff and just claim to have a “bad memory”, try new things, give the biggest piece to someone else, laugh a lot, take matching cutlery camping, dance your heart out, listen intently, call all flowers “posies” just because it’s fun to, love hard, forgive easily and never, ever be seen in public without your eyebrows. We will miss, terribly miss, Pat the wife, the mother, the step-mother, the grand-and great grandmother, the friend. We wish you well on your journey; we love you and we thank you. You will take our love with you, and we will keep your love here with us. A Prayer Service will be held at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405-12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be held at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405-12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Tim Boyle Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 317-10th Street South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 2M7. Honoured to serve the family, CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 7B1. Telephone (403) 381-7777. E-mail: care@cornerstonefh.ca