DIAS, Patrick Xavier Clement
- December 29, 2024
Patrick died peacefully surrounded by his family on December 29, 2024, at the age of 91, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He will be deeply missed by Patricia, his beloved wife of 58 years, his children Catherine, John, George (Cathy), and Andrew (Joan), and his grandchildren Kaitlyn, Chloe, and Andrew, Kira, Lana, and Hayden, and Adrian, Linus, and Lucy.
He was predeceased by his siblings Socrates (Belinda), Barbara (Vivian), Fr. George, Wilfred (Eleanor), Richard, and Joseph (Edwina). He is lovingly remembered by Richard’s wife Teresa, his many nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues.
A distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Education at McGill University, Patrick was passionate about teaching and inspired countless students throughout his career. Known for his kind and loving nature, he brought warmth to everyone he met. Patrick found immense joy in spending time with his family, especially at the family cottage – a place filled with laughter and fond memories.
Patrick’s kindness, wisdom, and unwavering love will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him. He will be profoundly missed and fondly remembered.
Visitation is on Monday, January 6, from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, January 7, at 11:00 AM, at St. Thomas à Becket Church (4320 Saint-Anne St, Pierrefonds), followed immediately by interment at St. Geneviève Cemetery (20176 Gouin Ouest, Pierrefonds). In his memory, donations to Parkinson Canada, the Thomas More Institute, or the Montreal Heart Institute would be appreciated. We extend our gratitude to the staff of the Intensive Care Unit at the Lakeshore General Hospital for the excellent care provided to Patrick over his final days.
For those unable to attend in person, the funeral will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/8NNmbPasuSc
Gael Ellis
January 1, 2025 at 8:12 amI send my sincere condolences during this time of deep sorrow. The Bible gives a very comforting hope that your loved one will come to life again on a beautiful paradise earth when death will be no more in John 5:28, 29 and Acts 24:15.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 11:25 amThank you so much for your kind words
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:12 pmThank you Gael
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 1:07 pmThank you so much
Gemma Bose
January 2, 2025 at 10:23 amPatrick was a kind, calm, pleasant person. May his soul rest in peace and may Patricia, his children and grandchildren be comforted and supported during this time. May Patrick’s memory be a blessing. Love and God Bless, Biren and Gemma Bose
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:13 pmThank you Gemma
Carole Saldanha
January 2, 2025 at 1:51 pmSincere heartfelt condolences on the sad passing of Patrick. He is remembered fondly for his kindness, his deep interest in family and his innate politeness. I will keep his books he so kindly sent me in his memory. Much love to Pat and the family. Your loss is shared by us. Carole Lindsey and Loriann Saldanha
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:14 pmThank you Carole
Michèle Aumais Hénuset
January 2, 2025 at 1:58 pmMessage to Patricia, Andrew, John, Georges Catherine. We offer condolences on Patrick’s passing. Your neighbors in Laurel. Michèle and Guy Hénuset
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:14 pmThank you Michele
Anthony Paré
January 2, 2025 at 5:27 pmAs a teacher, colleague, co-author, and friend, Patrick had a profound effect on my life. By far and away the best teacher I ever met, he started with curiosity and joy. He insisted that teachers should join their students in whatever inquiry they were conducting together. Never ask a question to which you already know the answer, he would say. He took great pleasure in watching students engage with texts, particularly poetry, and had enormous respect for the resources each reader brought to the effort. My life has been richer, deeper, happier, and more thoughtful because of Patrick Dias. I will remember him with love and gratitude.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:16 pmThank you Anthony
Kevin Dias
January 3, 2025 at 9:57 amDear Aunty, Catherine, John, George, Andrew and Families,
I write to express my condolences and those of Miriam and our children on the passing of your beloved husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather.
After the passing of Mark (the first person close to me who died), I learned (after months of flailing about) that the only thing that brought true and lasting consolation was gratitude. God had given me (and all of us) 17 years with Mark. While his passing was sad and tragic, I still had 17 years of experiences and memories with him. While not all of those memories and experiences were wonderful, we had played a role in each other’s lives and were better for it. After the shock and sadness of his departure faded, I was left grateful to God for putting Mark in my life – for who he was and what he meant to me.
Uncle Pat was a good man. He was super smart – an intellectual in the true sense of the word – but also very well-rounded, equally skilled at building a dock or cooking a meal as he was in evaluating a PHD dissertation. He was consistently warm and kind to everyone. He was quick to laugh and had a wonderful, sly, subtle sense of humour (in contrast to some of his more bombastic siblings). Above all, he loved family. He loved the family he came from and the family he helped create. Kudos to whichever of you put together his obituary and chose that photo – it captures him beautifully.
I was blessed to have Uncle as my godfather. He has been in my life from my earliest memories. I don’t recall any time when he sat me down to give me advice, but I learned about how to be a good, Catholic man from his example.
God blessed Uncle with a good life – 58 years with the love of his life, four wonderful children, 9 grandchildren, and career success. God also blessed him with a holy death on the Feast Day of St. Thomas a Becket, one of England’s greatest saints and patron of the parish Uncle had frequented for 50+ years. Uncle died surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren and (virtually) by his extended family whom he loved and who loved him, shortly after the conclusion of the Rosary.
We have every reason to hope for a blessed destiny for Uncle and I will pray for that intention for the rest of my life. Be assured also of our prayers for consolation for all of you during this difficult time.
I will miss Uncle dearly but am exceedingly grateful to our good God for putting him in my life, for his many exemplary qualities, and for all he has meant, and will continue to mean, to me.
Love,
Kevin
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:17 pmThank you so nuch Kevin
Alice Vickers
January 4, 2025 at 10:45 amPlease accept my heartfelt condolences Andrew, Joan and Dias family on the passing of your father.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:17 pmThank you Alice
Robert and Letty, Paula, Trevor, Denise, Anand and Arial
January 5, 2025 at 2:15 amDearest Pat, Catherine, John, George and Andrew
Kevin, Teresa and Charlotte. We will always remember Patrick dearly. Such a sweet and kind and loving person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you through this sad time. Please accept our deepest sympathy.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:18 pmThank you so much
Mary Maguire
January 6, 2025 at 9:42 amDear Patricia and family, My condolences on your loss of Patrick, decent, good, kind, intelligent, wise “man of all seasons”. So many fond memories of his warm smile, generosity of spirit, thoughtfulness,engaging and engaged personality, playfulness be it driving me to the summer cottage for a department retreat or to your home for dinner before the Beckett players, colluding with him when 6 year old George wrote to Santa Clause and I replied to George, always wise and supportive mentor, teacher, researcher and colleague – true to his beliefs and friend of so many others. He will be always be remembered and greatly missed.
Mary Maguire
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:19 pmThank you Mary
Michel Trudeau
January 6, 2025 at 9:48 amI’d like to offer my condolences to the family for your loss .
John Wolforth
January 6, 2025 at 2:29 pmI remember Pat as a true colleague and friend. He was always a source of wise counsel based on his impeccable moral standing. I was so sorry to hear of his passing, and that we had not maintained contact after retirement. I offer my sincere condolences to his family.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:22 pmThank you John
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:20 pmThank you Michel
Carol Fiedler
January 6, 2025 at 8:04 pmWe at the Thomas More Institute are saddened to hear of Pat’s passing. Pat was a kind, generous, and brilliant man who brought light and joy to whatever he did. For many years, he helped the Institute to introduce our method of learning through discussion to new leaders. He co-wrote “Informed Dialogue: Facets of Group Reading-Discussions” with former president of the Thomas More Institute, Charlotte Tansey. We are grateful for his many contributions, but most of all for who he was. As one of my colleagues said to me today: “when you were in his presence, you felt splendid.” He will be missed.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:22 pmThank you Carol
Diane Moreau
January 7, 2025 at 3:54 amMy sincere condolences Patricia and to all your family on the loss of Pat. I join Carol Fielder in remembering fondly the years that we spent together at TMI and particularly as his courrier delivering the precious short stories he had chosen to be used for Leaders
Training. He always greeted us at his home with his homemade super healthy muffins and his graciousness.
Gabriela & Bosco Gracias
January 7, 2025 at 10:25 amSincere condolences to the family. We share your grief.
Patricia Dias
January 15, 2025 at 4:05 pmThank you so much
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:23 pmThank you Diane
Emma Pereira & family
January 7, 2025 at 12:38 pmRest in peace Dearest Patrick, Heartfelt sympathies to Patricia Catherine Andrew George and John and their families.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:23 pmThank you Emma
Aida and Neville
January 7, 2025 at 2:15 pmSomeone so special will not be forgotten. Happy times I could never regret. Wonderful memories will live on forever. We have fond memories of Patrick, Patricia and family in England and Montreal. May Patrick”s soul rest in peace.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:24 pmThank you Aida and Neville
George and Digna
January 8, 2025 at 6:46 amDearest Patricia , Catherine, John , George , Andrew and families
Please accept our heartfelt sympathies.
Patrick was a loving , caring and wonderful cousin who will be dearly missed . We have fond memories of you and Patrick on your trips to London.
May his soul rest in peace .
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:24 pmThank you George and Digna
Juliet O'Neill
January 9, 2025 at 9:17 amI’m so sorry for your loss, Patricia, Andrew, and the entire Dias family. I had the privilege of working with Patrick for several years at McGill; I knew him as a wise, sincere and gentle man with an evident joy of teaching and guiding others. Years later we crossed paths again, so lovely to have had the chance to share old memories and reminisce. I also got to know his wonderful family and see his indomitable strength of will and faith up close. I feel blessed to have known him.
Patricia Dias
January 13, 2025 at 12:24 pmThank you Juliet