My friend and former co-worker, Patricia Bulpit passed away on Saturday, March 14 in Oshawa. Her daughter-in-law found her. I cannot imagine walking into that…

Patricia and I worked at BDO together, although she worked out of the National office in Toronto, and I worked in Calgary. We met at one of our yearly conferences at the Blue Mountain Resort.

I was sitting at the bar talking to my then boss, Chris Robinson (also, sadly passed away 2 years ago this past January) and Paticia sat down beside me, not knowing that we’d become friends. This was sometime in the summer of 2016, I think it was.

I often bugged Patricia that when she sat down, she was trying to pick me up – this would always get her going, which is why I would bring it up. I loved getting her going and she always reacted, much like my Sister, Joan Brenneman always did (Joan, sadly passed away in 2019).

Patricia and I became “work besties” – we would talk daily, or chat via MS Teams or whatever chat software we were using at work at the time. We’d text and or use Facebook Messenger other times. We got to know each other well over the next nearly 10 years.

Patricia was like a sister to me – seeing as I have lost both of my sisters, she was more than welcome in my otherwise closed life. She would often give sage advice, but not if I didn’t ask for it.

She was stubborn. Possibly more stubborn than I am, although this is the first time I have ever admitted that. She had a quirky sense of humour, a dry wit about her. She put up with me, which means she had the patience of a Saint. I am not sure why she put up with me, but I am glad she did.

When I was terminated from BDO (without cause, I will add) and I messaged her to tell her, she didn’t believe me. I was always playing pranks on her and often lied, but when I lied, it was obvious to BOTH of us that I was lying, the lies were always humourous. An email went out shortly after informing IT staff that I was no longer with BDO, so she believed me then,

Our relationship didn’t change much. We didn’t chat during the day. Her productivity at work likely went up, I am sure mine did as well. I would text her daily saying “Good morning” and she’d always reply within a few minutes with her own morning greetings.

Patricia was let-go from BDO last Fall (I think it was) and I was shocked by that. She worked hard and did the work of at least 2 people. She was worried about her financial future, she worried a lot compared to me who never worries about anything.

Shortly after, she started having some health issues and reluctantly saw her doctor. She spent some time in the hospital and always kept me up to date as to what was going on. I wasn’t able to get a hold of her for a couple of days so I decided to call her – she hated talking on the phone, and so do I but for someone who doesn’t worry often, I was worried about her.

I mentioned, in passing, that if she should ever pass away, I likely wouldn’t know about it and the same for me – she’d never hear anything. I told her she should tell her son to let me know.

I wasn’t able to get a hold of her in mid-March for a few days and she didn’t pick up my calls either. When I spoke with her in early March, she sounded awful and I told her she should go back to the hospital. This was the same advice that her son and daughter-in-law gave her as well, I wish she had listened to us.

On Sunday, March 15, I received a call from her D-I-L, and I knew what the news would be. I was shocked and saddened. My friend of nearly 10 years had passed away.

I miss our calls and texts. I miss her advice, her sense of humour, her stubborness, her ability to tolerate my craziness. I miss her and always will.

Rest in Peace, Patricia – you were like a sister to me and I will always remember you.