Patrick Bignell

Patrick Bignell, age 69, of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, passed away suddenly on Monday, August 25, 2025, at his home with the family by his side.  Patrick was born January 25, 1956, to the late Sidney and Lillian Bignell of Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He was the eight of fourteen children in the Bignell family.

  He attended school at the former Indian Day School, The Pas and Brandon, Manitoba.

At a young age, Pat worked with his father fishing, trapping, hunting and travelling down to the camp along with his other brother Simon. Both brothers were taught about the land, survival and became avid outdoors men. Pat tried to keep fit by jogging, lifting weights, clearing snow in the winter or cleaning the yards.

Pat was keen about fixing and repairing small motors and worked tirelessly to assist those that came to ask for his help. He took pride in his work, and one can tell that he enjoyed what he did as he spent hours working on a job. He was highly motivated and eager to learn.

Patrick acquired skills in carpentry and would spend time building things around the house, whether it was fixing doors, windows, front and back steps. He was the one that the family came to request for his help to assemble furniture, bikes, set up tents outside for family gatherings and got the yard ready for celebrations.  He kept the yard outside his home very nicely mowed, garbage/debris free, and even planted trees around the home.  It is still lovely to this day. We will miss his presence around the homes he took care of so diligently.

Patrick was also well liked by the community, and he was affectionately called “Gretzky” by all his friends.  He would have visitors and at times, went out and spent time with them. He had special friends whom we seen come and go at his home. He enjoyed the visits and their friendship.

Although he seemed quiet, but to the family he was someone very special and loved by all including the little ones who often frequent to his home for visits and snacks. He never seemed to mind as our family homes are always full of children.

Patrick also enjoyed concerts. His older sister would take him to concerts in Winnipeg and attended several concerts – Guns n Roses, Little Big Town: April Wine and Alabama in Edmonton. He often joked about not interested in any other bands at the bar as he became spoiled. He always had front row seats at the concerts. He attended Oiler games in Edmonton a gift by his little sister.  He was so excited that he seen the Oilers in person for the first time.

He excelled in sports – baseball, hockey and soccer. He was in the little league baseball and played with different soccer teams throughout his younger years. He was even offered and selected to play with a professional soccer team in Vancouver.  Scouts attended to one of his soccer games at Fisher Island and that’s when they wanted him to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Pat went but he came back to his home community because he said he was very lonely. He was very attached to his family and so did the family with him. He was still very young to set out on his own.

Patrick is survived by his siblings, Charlotte Ballantyne, Alice, Elaine, Sharon, Christine, Kerry and Simon Bignell; Uncle Louis (Pauline) Personius; aunts Rose Personius, Irene Personius; all his nephews, nieces, in-laws, and cousins too numerous to mention.

Patrick was preceded by his parents, Sidney and Lillian Bignell, grandparents Patrick and Bella Personius, his sisters Bella Jane, Jemima, Lillian and brothers Adam, Isacc and Henry; uncle Horace (Marie) Personius, Patrick Personius, Paul Personius; aunt Marion, Myra, Catherine and Eileen; brothers-in-law Solomon Ballantyne;  David Merasty Sr; niece Cecile Merasty, baby Cook and Ballantyne,  If we forgot anyone, it was not intentional.