Arlene "Pat" Patricia Hill

Arlene Patricia Hill

October 19, 1931 – July 17, 2019

Peacefully, in the early morning of Wednesday, July 17 2019 at her residence in the Carberry Personal Care Home, Pat left this world, having lived a long and interesting life.

Pat was the tiny firstborn for Mary and Bob McCulley, and was followed by one sister and two brothers. She grew up in Winnipeg, living in a number of homes on the west side of the city. At the age of 16, she attended Normal School, going to teach at Petrel School for the fall term, and then to Castle Hill School for the remainder of the year. This is where she met the love of her life, Elmer Hill. They got engaged in the fall of 1949, and were married on April 1, 1950. Being a city girl moving to the country, and the wife of a farmer, she had much to learn, and was very thankful for Grandma Calvert living nearby. She quickly developed cooking, baking, gardening and parenting skills as they welcomed their three children in 1952, 1954 and 1958.

Pat stayed at home until 1962 then went to work at the new Simplot Potato Plant, where she worked for several years. Wanting a new challenge, she attended Assiniboine Community College and graduated from the Social Work program. She worked as a social worker in Portage la Prairie and then moved to the Children’s Aid Society in Brandon where she worked until she retired in 1994. While working there, she completed the University of Regina social work certificate program.

Pat was a world traveller. She and Elmer spent many happy winters in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. They also travelled to New Zealand, eastern Canada, Hawaii, Arizona and most of the countries in the Caribbean. When Elmer wasn’t wanting to travel, Pat found friends to travel with her, and went to Turkey, Morocco, Greece, Spain, Portugal, the British Isles, Europe, Australia, several parts of Canada and the USA and a Caribbean cruise. The Dauphin Countryfest was an annual pilgrimage for several years.

When she was in her 40s, she took up swimming as a stress reducer, and swam thousands of miles over her lifetime.

Rheumatoid arthritis became a major factor in her life when she was in her 50s, and remained so, creating many difficulties as the years went on. Despite all of the debilitating health issues, she remained upbeat and optimistic, which was inspirational to all who knew her. For many years, she volunteered as an educator with the Arthritis Society.

For her last year, she resided at the Carberry Personal Care Home, where she lived happily as a result of the wonderful, kind people who work there. The family sends immeasurable thanks to all of the staff members who worked hard to make life pleasant for our Mom/Grandma/Sister.

She leaves behind her children Garry and Janice, Heather and Jim, and Brent and Shari; grandchildren Devin, Alexandra and Caitlin, Keegan and Parisa, Shelby and Michelle, and Barrett; siblings Shelagh and Ross Yarnell, Brian and Pat McCulley, and Lorne and Lyn McCulley; sister-in-law Grace Hoglund. She also leaves many much loved nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Elmer, her parents Bob and Mary McCulley and Elmer’s siblings and their spouses.

A celebration of life for Pat will take place in the Carberry United Church on Monday August 12, 2019 at 2:00, with interment at the Carberry Plains Cemetery. This will be followed by lunch at the Carberry United Church Hall to which all are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Arthritis Society or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by White’s Funeral Home.

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