Obituary of Patricia Mary Williams

Patricia Mary "Trish" Williams (nee Halcrow) died on December 13, 2017 in Cortland, New York at the age of 90 with her son Dean at her side. Trish is predeceased by her parents, Peter and Georgina Halcrow of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, husband Claude Williams of North Boston, New York , son Martin of Hamburg, New York, brother Robert of of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and brother James, whom she brought to her home in North Boston, New York to be his caretaker before his death. She was also the caretaker of her mother-in-law, Blanche Williams for 8 years. She is survived by her son Dean Williams of Cortland, New York, son Dale Williams of North Boston, New York, daughter Debbie Bennett (Robert) of Gowanda, New York and Wimauma, Florida and daughter Nancy Williams of Hamburg, New York. She is a loving grandmother and great-grandmother to several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Despite having grown up in Canada, Trish was very proud of her Shetland roots and the Shetland dialect. Her parents came to Canada in 1924 from the Shetland Isles, Scotland with her brother Robert. Her sister Annie passed away before their departure for Canada and is buried in Leith, Scotland. Trish and her brother James were born in Canada and grew up in a very close family on Vansitmart Avenue in Hamilton, Ontario, where three brothers who left Shetland lived in three houses in a row; Trish was never at a loss for cousins to play with. One day in 1945 she came home from work to find her pen-pal waiting for her on the front porch of her parents' home in Hamilton and thus began the path to a long life in the USA. Her children are proud duel citizens of both Canada and the USA. Late in life Trish became a world traveler. In 2000 her son Dean took her to France, England and Scotland. While in the Shetland Isles she met many relatives she had communicated with for decades and visited the grave of her sister Annie. She visited her cousin Gena in the Evantide Nursing Home in Scalloway, Shetland. Gena was born in the Shetland Isles, but she grew up with Trish in Canada before her return to Shetland. In 2001 Trish returned to Scotland with her daughter Nancy. Among other adventures, Trish also drove coast-to-coast with her brother Robert of Hamilton and her niece Valerie's family. If anyone calls one of her children hard-working or loyal, you know where the genes came from. Late to bed and early to rise, Trish accomplished an amazing amount over a long day. She worked outside the home in her early adult years before dedicating her life to her husband and five children. She worked in the family business, the home and yard, canned and froze garden produce, cooked and baked like a gourmet chef, and shoveled Buffalo snow mounds like no other. She quilted, crocheted and was dressed to the nines most of her life, certainly one of few to leave the home in spiked heel winter boots and a mink coat. She saved any money in her own birthday cards to buy things for her children. You heard her laugh and hum, saw her smile and giggle, but negativity was simply not one of her traits. In 2015 it was necessary to bring Trish into the care of the nursing facility at Cortland Regional Medical Center. Her son Dean was part of her daily life there and wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the many caring nurses and aides. Friends called at the DONALD M. DEMMERLEY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 21 Pierce Avenue, Hamburg on Monday, December 18 from 6-9 PM. A funeral service was held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7630 Boston State Road, North Boston, New York on Tuesday, December 19 at 10:00 AM. Online guest register at www.demmerleyfuneralhome.com.