Patti (Patricia J.) McLeish (nee Leddy)

The family and friends of our dear Patti McLeish have celebrated her life and mourned her death as she wished, at a celebration of life (a.k.a. a great party!), with food, music, dancing, and reminiscences.

Patti was born Patti Leddy to Helen and Vincent Leddy in 1951 in Edmonton, Alberta, followed by sister Bonnie and brother Scott. She was predeceased by Vincent, by Helen in 2022, and by Scott in August 2024. Survived by her sister Bonnie and many many close friends.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Professional Diploma at U of A, Patti began her teaching career in 1975 with Edmonton Public Schools and worked sequentially as a research assistant, teacher aide, teacher, principal, and consultant until 2008. During that time she served at Alex Taylor, Terrace Heights, Braemar, Newton, Delton, Lauderdale, and Mee-Yah-Noh schools, in programs, and was seconded to the University of Alberta Education Faculty.

However, this simple list doesn’t capture the immense impact Patti had on her students and her colleagues. She believed in the potential of each student to excel, whatever their circumstances, and she felt the same way about her colleagues. She mentored staff and students both formally and informally, and as a result was loved and respected by a wide community of staff, students, and parents. She had a particular interest and expertise in special needs at the elementary level, especially in emotional behavioral areas. She was passionate about her work, articulate and intelligent in carrying it out, but never lost her wickedly sharp and wry sense of humour, which enlivened every interaction in her life. After retirement she continued with some consulting work, and took up visual art, which she created with the same passionate excellence that she did everything else.

Patti’s health was fragile and at the time of her death, she had just beaten pancreatic cancer (a rare victory) but was still frail in body. Her spirit, however, was strong and vivid, and though she was saddened by the recent deaths of friend Pam and brother Scott, she was able to start going out again to eat sushi, drink latte, and enjoy the summer weather. We were so glad to see her able to leave the house for enjoyment instead of just doctor visits! She died at home, peacefully while sleeping.

Patti loved dogs and other animals, and always had a loyal companion. She is survived by Lupe, who has found a special home (where the humans have also created a Little Free Library in Patti’s memory). Part of Patti’s legacy has helped dog rescues in Alberta and Mexico.

All her life Patti was a vivid, iconoclastic fashionista, partly for her own enjoyment and self-expression and partly to model to her students that there was no one path to excellence, no one way to live one’s life. Throughout her life she danced to great music, partied with siblings and friends, and travelled to exciting destinations. She had a strong bond with Mexico where she visited her sister each year. She left a long list of plans for “self-portraits” in her collage artwork which were going to contain mottoes like “Don’t shrink to fit”, “Never give in to the Man”, “Follow your own yellow brick road”, “When you’re competent, you can afford to be deviant”, “You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”, and, with special meaning to those who knew her best, “Give peas a chance”.

Patti retained strong and long-standing relationships with former colleagues, former students and parents, and a wide variety of neighbours and friends. Patti was a loyal, loving, and wise friend to many. 120 of her friends and family gathered on May 31, 2025, to send her off, as she had requested, with the perfect party: a combination of good food, good entertainment, good storytelling, and good music. For that night, Riverdale Hall was Patti’s special place, adorned with the Frida Kahlo and Day of the Dead imagery that was central to Patti’s beliefs, informed her home décor, and inspired much of her art. Her farewell party was invitational and every effort was made to reach her friends. If for some reason you were missed, profuse apologies. You can leave tributes at Trinity Funeral Home’s Remembering page, and for a short time Patti’s e-mail at pattimcleish@me.com will be active to receive messages which will be passed to her sister.

In memory of Patti, please give a donation or volunteer some time at an animal rescue or a charity that unites animals with special needs kids—and always let your freak flag fly in her honour. We will miss her, and we remember her with immense love.