Obituary of Pat Nyenhuis

(nee Letetia-Mae Williams Duplisea)

After a heroic battle with cancer, Pat passed from this life on October 28, 2022.  Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 59 years Mike Nyenhuis, son Joe (Claudette) and daughters Mary Lynn Lalonde (Mike) and Elizabeth Dettweiler (Greg).  She will be fondly remembered by her eight grandchildren Jessica, Lilly, Grace, Kimberly, Hope, Reid, Gordon, and Rose. Also left to grieve is her brother Freddie Duplessis (fiance Kathryn MacLean) and family (Patricia McAllister, Lori Delanoy, Fred Jr.) and sister-in-law Lucia Daley and family (Kate McMahon, Charlie).  Pat was predeceased by her loving parents Fred and Estelle Duplisea and sister-in-law Ethel Duplessis.

Born May 30, 1939 in Keswick, NB, Pat grew up on a farm in “the house on the hill”. After graduating from Fredericton High School she earned a degree in Home Economics at MacDonald College of McGill University and a teaching certificate which she put to good use working at various times as a dietitian, teaching high school, and teaching sewing lessons while raising a family. After marrying, Pat and Mike first lived in Bathurst, NB, then Cobden, ON and finally settled in Kanata, ON.  Pat had a variety of artistic and creative interests over the years, even co-owning a craft store for a time, but her greatest interest and legacy has been quilting. She enjoyed quilting with the ladies from Kanata United Church, the Poole Creek Quilters, and friends and family south of the border.  She has made and given away hundreds of quilts to family, friends, charitable causes, and every new baby she heard tell of. She had a love for travel be it plane, train, automobile or cruise ship, and wintered in Florida during retirement years.  A woman of great faith, Pat was involved in many ministries including Bible studies, prison ministry, and working with troubled youth through Operation Go Home for many years.  More recently she has sent daily encouragement to friends and family through Scripture verses on pictures of her cherished gardens.  A tremendously generous and productive person, Pat worked tirelessly for others and made a loving impact on all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

The family would like to thank her palliative care team for the wonderful care provided these last number of months.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Kanata United Church, 33 Leacock Drive, Kanata at 3 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kanata United Church or Kanata Food Bank.