Alicia Patricia Conway

Pat's friend, Roch Longueépée, regrets he is unable to attend today's service due to lack of resources. Roch has asked I read the eulogy he has prepared for today's service.
We acknowledge today's service and prayer are being held on the traditional territory of the WS'ANEC' (Saanich), Lkwungen (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples of the Coast Salish Nation.
We gather today to honor the life of our sister and friend, who we all knew as Pat Conway, and to say our final goodbyes.
I know there are many who had varied experiences of Pat. There are the many agencies and advocates alike, who worked closely with Pat over the years. HIV/AIDS groups, Homeless organizations, anti-poverty organizations, legal aid clinics, housing organizations, indigenous groups, to name a few. I recognize the close bond many of us formed with Pat over the years.
We grieve with you, we celebrate your hope, even in the face of death. Although it is difficult to come to terms with such senseless loss, we know Pat's light will live on through all of us. You, those who work in our communities with the Pat Conways of the world, are the effigy of good will and peace. For your care and love we thank you.
To John Douglas, Pat always expressed her love as a friend for you. Your support for Pat meant the world to her. Today, we grieve with you. We are ever mindful of what this day means for you, and for our communities.
Most importantly, we recognize today, that before Pat came into any of our lives she had over fifty years of life with her own people. We acknowledge the anguish they must feel in never knowing the fate of someone they loved, and are missing. No matter how much we cared or invested in her, no one can stake any claim on Pat.
Pat came into many of our lives in 2000. She told us she had been assaulted and her identity stolen. Homeless, lost, disabled, and without income, Pat fought on to rebuild her life.
In 2004 Pat identified as Metis. In 2005, she challenged BC government's refusal to grant her income assistance through a ministerial exemption through a BC Human Rights Tribunal application and won. Pat also later fought for her old age pension which ended unsuccessfully at the Social Security Tribunal of Canada in 2016.
In 2011-2012 Pat reached out to me through former institutional abuse survivors from an Orphanage in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2013, I began working with Pat, through Restoring Dignity, which serves survivors of institutional child abuse and torture.
Pat identified as a survivor and asked for my help in accessing records in her efforts to resolve her identity. I began referring her to lawyers and providing advocacy and support services.
Pat fought valiantly to resolve her identity and rebuild her life until the very end.
In 2013, Pat informed me she was dying from cancer.
In our discussions, I shared with Pat how the organization I headed up views our survivors, as family. I often referred to Pat as a sister and she in turn, referred to me as her ‘big brother'. Each survivor in our community are members for life, because they are genuinely family.
Through the worst part of her suffering, Pat never once complained. Pat never sought sympathy, but instead always fought on. She was upbeat and had a determination that would make anyone believe in immortality. Pat defied the greatest of odds throughout the time I knew her.
In the throes of her last days, Pat was often too weak to speak. I recall one day telling Pat how much I admired her courage. I also told her that whenever she felt she could no longer fight, it was okay to go, even though our wish was that she fight on.
When I think of Pat, I am reminded of the words of Albert Camus. "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
Whatever the truth was of the tragedy that befell Pat, all those years ago, no one can hurt her now. What we must do is honor her memory and light. Pat, in every sense, was the essence of equity and grace.
When those we love die in the face of systemic and societal failures, we pause, we reflect, we grieve and we start again. We realize again how much must be done to make things right in this country. We must see past personal and political agendas and look to do what is needed to improve the welfare of others like Pat, and understand that the promises of constitution and peace are forged in our service to each other, and only achieved through equity.
Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. Nor is loyalty, or trust, or joy. Love is affection and respect, order and encouragement, and support. Real love is something unselfish and involves sacrifice and giving. Pat was all of these.
She no longer suffers. The tragedy and yes, the beauty of Pat's life, should compel us to be greater.
Scripture tells us: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. "(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
God's grace offers us this. Christ admonishes us to 'love one another as I have loved you'. Love is the answer.
In the face of death, let us honor life. Life is a gift not to be wasted on things which cannot be changed or undone. As scripture tells us, let us "not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." In the face of the lovelessness, let us love. For the sake of peace let us find love for one another.
Pat belongs to the ages now, but we preferred when she was with us. Our world is forever a smaller place. We have been so honored to be part of the light Pat brought to our lives.
In the years ahead, may each of you find peace beyond what you may feel today.
DO NOT LET LOVE DIE. Find the courage to seek peace without fear. So that today, as we lay Pat to rest, the dove will be free at last.
© R. LONGUEÉPÉE - RESTORING DIGNITY 06/29/2017

Funeral Service