Yesterday was a sad day in our temporary New Mexico house. We received a call in the morning that Jean’s sister, Pat, had been found in her condo in a coma. Hospital tests revealed a massive stroke. Last night she died in the hospital having never regained consciousness. Today Jean has been talking to family and friends on the phone.
2016 at her Granddaughter’s Wedding
We are thankful that we just spent three days with Pat and celebrated her birthday a bit early. Yesterday was her 84th birthday.
Blowing out the candles.
Pat’s two children live here in the southwest and we will be joining them soon for a service to remember her life and share memories. Pat led a peripatetic life, living in places like Level Green Pennsylvania, Adrian Pennsylvania, Buffalo NY, Oklahoma City, Roswell New Mexico, San Diego, Tempe Arizona, Alexandria Virginia, Seattle, and Colorado Springs. She also worked many different jobs to which she applied what often seemed like boundless energy. When she moved to Arizona Pat became an avid rockhound and spent many years roaming the desert looking for minerals and gems. Once she even hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with her rock collecting friends! A proud achievement was completing her bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University.
She is survived by her daughter and son, Denise and Greg, their spouses, Doug and Alicia, two grand daughters, Meagan and Erin, their spouses, Sam and Steve, and her great grand daughter Evelyn, also known as. Squeakers. Pat had been living close to her daughter in Colorado Springs for a few years.
Pat, you will be missed.
Paul
Travels With Picasso 
Jean and Paul,
Our hearts go out to you. We are so sorry about the passing of your sister. You have been in our thoughts since we heard. It was so good that you spent time with her so recently. Your description of her is touching. We see that she and Jean had some things in common like an adventurous spirit.
Love,
Mary Rose and Don
>
So sorry to hear of this and send my condolences. It is a good thing you were able to visit with her recently.
Yes sad! Will repost to let others know.
Thanks Joe for letting others know.
I knew Pat from Zales, we would often close the store together. She always told the most amazing stories and always spoke very highly of her children and grandkids. She will truly be missed. My condolences to her family.
So sorry to hear of your loss!
Thanks, Paul, for posting this. Jean called me today with the sad news. So sorry for the family. And II will selfishly miss the phone conversations that we enjoyed until just recently.
Sad day indeed. I am so sorry to read that bad news, and want to present my condolences to Jean. You should both feel good however that you were able to celebrate Pat’s b’day with her, even though it was an early celebration. And perhaps you might be grateful that she never regained consciousness and thus did not go through a protracted agony. I am stunned by the two photographs that you display in your posting, one shows a woman in great shape, the other one someone who in less than a year appears to have aged tremendously.
Of course, as is always the case, no word can provide any solace for such a loss, but that should not and will not prevent me rom sending you and more importantly Jean a virtual yet affectionate hug at this time.
Our condolences to your family.
Thanks for letting us know of Pat’s death. I know that despite their differences, Pat was very important in Jean’s life. The sisters took care of each other at crucial times, and you helped with that, Paul, when Pat lived with the two of you. Pat was a brave and principled person. I didn’t know she had climbed to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I once imagined that I might do that, but I never had the courage to carry through on it!