Patricia fought a courageous battle with cancer before passing away peacefully at the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), with members of her family at her side. She was a woman of faith, integrity, and quiet strength. Although shy and gentle, she loved to laugh at a good joke or story, and was a loyal friend.

Patricia was the daughter of Joseph and Effie (Gillis) O'Brien of Sydney, NS.

Born in Sydney, she was the eldest of nine children and a second mother to her youngest siblings. After graduating from St. Francis Xavier University, NS, with her BA (1972) and B.Ed. (1973), she moved to Newfoundland to begin her first teaching job and met her husband-to-be, Ris Noseworthy. Eventually, they built a home and settled in Lower Cove in the Great Northern Peninsula. Patricia settled into her new home and often entertained her siblings with stories of the beautiful scenery, the wonderful people, the local activities, food, music, and lifestyle. She devoted herself to teaching her students and taught at a number of schools until her retirement. Every summer, until recently, she travelled home to Cape Breton to visit family, attend concerts, have coffee and a visit with friends, and always spent as much time as possible on the East Bay sandbar on the Bras d'Or Lakes. Although she did not have children of her own, she loved her many nieces and nephews, always inquiring about their latest interests and adventures and spending time with them when the opportunity arose.

She is survived by her brothers Brian (Carmen) O'Brien, Woodbridge, Ont; and, Robert O'Brien, Halifax, NS; her sisters Colleen (Blaise) MacLean, Sydney, NS; Laureen (Donnie) Beaver, Dartmouth, NS; Mary (Patrick) Larin, Mississauga, Ont; Barbara (Brent) MacVicar, Dartmouth, NS; her sisters-in-law Belinda O'Brien, Sydney, NS; and Jane O'Brien, Alliston, Ont,; her Aunt Joan Marsh, Kitchener, Ont; and her many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Patricia was predeceased by her parents, Effie and Joseph O'Brien of Sydney, NS; her brothers Allan (Jane) O'Brien, Alliston, Ont; and Gerard "Ardy" (Belinda) O'Brien, Sydney, NS.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the many relatives and friends in her Newfoundland community who cared for and supported Patricia during her long illness, especially Ris Noseworthy, Pauline and Wilga Parrill, Charmaine Genge, Myrtle Noseworthy, and her dear friend Jean Noseworthy, St. John's.

A sincere thank you to all of the nurses, doctors, and staff at the hospital in St. Anthony, especially Hannah, Cody, and Abby, a student nurse. We are so grateful for your professionalism and compassion and for communicating updates and vital information to family members in other provinces who could not be there with Patricia during her final days. It meant the world to us. Many thanks to the staff at the Dr. L.A. Miller Center, St. John's, NL, for taking such good care of Patricia during her stay there.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of the Country Haven Funeral Home, Corner Brook, NL. There will be no visitation or formal funeral service at this time. Burial will take place at a later date at Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks, NS.

Donations in Patricia's memory may be made to a local charity of your choice.