Alan Norman Woodland and Patricia Adele Woodland

I was so sorry to hear of Alan and Pat’s passing. I first met them through my mother, Molly Gifford who met Alan when she volunteered on the library board. Alan and Pat became very close friends with my mom so I saw them often. They were such wonderful, supportive friends to my mom who lost my father prior to her volunteering gig. When my mom lost her vision, Alan wrote an article for the newspaper about her amazing attitude facing her vision challenges. She was so pleased when he read her his thoughtful account of her situation. They were both such special people and I was so pleased to find out they left this world together, holding hands, surrounded by their beloved family.

It is so hard to accept that these 2 magnificent people are gone. They were such a cut above just about everyone I know. So many memories around their candle-lit table or on the deck gazing out at the garden they loved and tended with such care. Alan co-founding Winter Harp with me; the incredible poems he wrote for the show that take the listeners deep inside; the way he read the poems touched the lives of tens of thousands of audience members. And then there was Pat faithfully selling our CDs at every show. They both had such practical wisdom and this I truly miss. Alan reading poems to me over the phone. He and I getting into deep conversations about deep subjects. It’s all gone now. There was the last goodbye with them at the hospital. I marvelled at their courage — going together holding hands. My life was enriched many many times over by knowing them. Alan & Pat — you are forever in my heart.

I knew Alan Woodland as my boss and Chief Librarian of the New Westminster Public Library. I hesitate to call him my boss because he was anything but bossy. In fact, he did his utmost to foster a congenial, happy work place. I think that made the library a fantastic workplace. I loved being a reference librarian there for over 32 years. I never ceased to be impressed by the depth of our historical collection, much of it procured by Alan. I am not surprised at hearing of his sojourns in nature because he literally could charm the birds off the trees. Whether chatting with patrons or politicians at City Hall he did it with panache. He always very proud of his wife and children. When he brought Pat into visit it was always a joy. I remember him telling me how Pat would effortlessly whip up gourmet pancakes when camping using just a cast iron skillet and nearby wild berries. It is wonderful to look back and see a life well-lived.

Despite all the 60 years of knowing you Tim, I only met your parents once. However I feel like I have known them a wee bit through all of your stories. And I thank you for sharing the very personal stories of their last bits of time together. A lifetime of loving each other and staying together forever! Once again, my most sincere condolences to you and your family. ❤️

Among many of the qualities of Alan and Pat was always to see the positive aspect of whatever the subject was, along with a willingness to reach out to help whenever they could. I had mentioned a few times to Alan of his insight, and taking the thought just one step deeper and more meaningful, and that was manifested in his love of poetry and his writing. I remember one lunch time a couple of years ago, we wondered “what are we going to look forward to”. After some thoughts we concluded that we could look forward to the coming spring and to outlive our respective wives, thereby being of some help, however limited it may be. Alan, together with Pat, took that idea one step further as they stayed together to the end in a very loving way - a lovely ending to two very fulfilled lives.
One recent lunch this Spring all three of us took a little picnic out to Grant Narrows. Looking back, it was very timely, and I am so grateful that we could take Pat there with us.

I couldn’t have asked for better neighbours when I moved across from the Woodlands almost forty years ago. Neighbour’s became friends. I will always remember the peaceful look on Alan’s face when he came to say “goodbye”. They are at peace together for always.

Thank you for sharing, Wendy and Max. Wendy was that your photo of them walking holding hands at Kanaka, that was featured on one of the Haney FB sites awhile ago? It was certainly in our family discussion in those final weeks.

I met Pat and Alan during my daily walks at Kanaka Creek Waterfront Park in Maple Ridge in the Fall of 2013. They were always walking holding hands. I commented on how nice it was to see them always holding hands of which Alan stated "we held hand in the beginning because we liked each other, now they hold hands to prevent her from smacking him", this was our first introduction to Alan's sense of humor. There was a group of us who would show up at Kanaka Creek everyday at the same time to walk together ~ the group changed as time passed but still continues today. Quite often the walking group would find Pat and Alan taking a rest on a bench and enjoying the Fraser River view, so we would stop and chat for several minutes. This continued until a couple of years ago when they were no longer able to walk. My last visit to see Pat and Alan was a few days before Christmas 2024 when I dropped off my annual raspberry jam and chocolates. We had a lovely visit ~ showing them my photos from our three month trip across Canada to Newfoundland. It was with great sadness that I learned of their passing. They were a lovely couple and will truly be missed.

Cerebral, articulate and erudite, Alan and I shared a common interest in language (and Ping Pong!) and I considered him a mentor.
He was a gentleman, and a gentle man, thoughtful, considerate and worldly.
I shall miss him and Pat and, of course, our occasional lunches at the Billy Miner!

Tempus fugit. Memento mori.

Max.