Janice Patrick, the first born child of Thomas and Isabelle McDowell, who were both talented musicians, arrived on February 28, 1917, in Vernon, BC. She had three siblings, Elaine, Stuart and Kenneth. At the age of five she was a musical child prodigy and performed concerts at the MacDonald and Palliser Hotels in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. She continued studying music and performing extensively until she married George Patrick in 1941 and moved to Revelstoke, B.C. where after George finished his work with the CPR they operated a Credit Bureau.
With music being a part of her soul, she soon taught piano and voice and mentored many excellent musicians who went on to perform and enjoy music with the same passion Janice had for musical excellence. She loved her music. She loved her cats. She loved gourmet food and cooking. She loved to entertain and to be entertained. She loved red wine and scotch whiskey! She loved to laugh with friends and family.
Many wonderful times were spent in Europe attending musical concerts, workshops and visiting with friends. She ventured north to the wilds of Northern Alberta to spend Christmases with her family travelling by Greyhound and arriving on Christmas Eve to play the Christmas carols for the family gathering. Her life was rich in friends and family and her trips on the Greyhound to Vernon and Kelowna to share her musical talents as a teacher were legendary. Such also allowed her to spend time with her sister Elaine and brother-in-law Brig Young who lived in Peachland, BC.
Janice brought a great repertoire of musical talent to Revelstoke and area which she shared for many, many years. Her awards from her talent as a teacher of voice and piano and member of the BC and Canadian Music Teacher’s Associations were numerous but her favourite award was being selected as Revelstoke’s Citizen of the Year in 2000 for the impact she had in the community with her contribution to the world of music. She was a classy woman always “dressed” and proper when she ventured out from Mackenzie Avenue where she lived for many years. Her caregivers say she was so appreciative of the wonderful care she received at Mt. Cartier Court and she continued her outings to the downtown area with the assistance of loving companions. Memories of “Auntie Niece” as she was known to her family are cherished by her niece, Sandra Young Kolbuc of Whitecourt, Alberta and her nephew Ross Young of Victoria, B.C. and their families, as well as by her sister in law is Helen McDowell of Surrey, B.C. Janice was also loved by her Godchild Ania Flagg (nee Westaway) and family of Nanaimo, B.C. as well as by those many students she mentored in their quest for bringing forwardthe best of their musical abilities
A true celebration of Janice’s love of music and of the full life she lived will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Revelstoke, BC, on Saturday, July 28 at 2 p.m. Former students who wish to perform are welcome to do so as a variety of musical selections and stories of those who wish to honour Janice in this way are encouraged.
Please contact Gary Sulz of the Brandon Bowers Funeral Home at 250-837-2029 if you wish to be a part of the musical and/or spoken gifts to the memory of Janice with your performance or words of remembrance.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting Janice’s obituary notice at www.brandonbowersfuneralhome.com.
Cremation arrangements are in the care of Brandon Bowers Funeral Home, Revelstoke.
