Obituary of Pamela Abrahams

PAMELA ABRAHAMS

January 28, 1932 – May 21, 2020

With great sadness, we share the loss of Pamela Abrahams, beloved wife to Vivian, mother to Graham (Madeline), Mark (Cheryl), Caroline (Doug), and Jennifer (Jon), sister to William, James, Judy, and Barbara, grandmother to Max, Zea, Madeline, Hannah, Collin, and Sarah, aunt to Adele, Melanie, Stephen, Tom, Julia, George, Christina, David, John, Neil, and Kim. She was also Great-Aunt to many and friend to countless others. Virtually surrounded by family from around the world, she slipped away peacefully on Thursday, May 21st, following a brief illness.

Pam's early life was spent in rural England, where it was shaped first by the loss of her mother at a young age, and then by the Second World War. After her father's remarriage, she was an attentive and loving older sister to the siblings that followed. Thanks to hard work and resourcefulness, she achieved her dream of studying science at University College, London, and then the University of Edinburgh, where she met Vivian.

After a brief courtship, they married and Pam started her international adventure, crossing the Atlantic on the QE1, following her new husband to Philadelphia where he was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Ultimately, they made a life in Kingston Ontario.  She combined her career in Physiology at Queen’s University, teaching students in medicine, nursing and life sciences, with her role as a full-time mother of 4.  She was known for her kindness and generosity by all she met.  Nothing gave her as much joy as connecting with her immediate and extended family.

She and Viv enjoyed over 20 years of retirement, travelling extensively.  They particularly loved their annual sojourn to the Sunshine Coast of Australia to escape Canadian winter and catch up with friends and relatives. The family wishes to thank all those who helped and supported Pam in her later years. We would especially like to thank Robin Ashcroft for the dedication, support, love and humour that she provided to Pam and Viv. Pam will be deeply missed by all of us.

A celebration of her life will take place at a later date.  Memorial donations can be made to the U.H.K.F (Kingston General Hospital).