Patty is my big sister,though depending on the day, she was also my second mother. We are eleven years apart, and she stepped into both roles , especially after our mom passed away when I was just seventeen and Patty wasn’t yet twenty eight. She had already been helping to care for me long before that. I can still remember my mother telling me she would push me in a stroller with her friends, proudly showing me off like her baby doll. Later, when I was about five, I’d ride along with her and her friends, sometimes even landing at one of those legendary parties when our parents were gone.
Patty’s friends from Rodeo meant the world to her, people she carried in her heart even when years had passed, often reflecting on those memories with deep affection.
From the very beginning, I looked up to Patty. She carried a light within her, a quiet glow of goodness, warmth, and love that drew people in. I was blessed to witness her bring each of her beautiful daughters into this world: Erica, Jessica, and Madison. She was a devoted, loving mother, especially in those early years. Those little girls, now strong and beautiful young women, were the very heartbeat of her life and remain her greatest legacy on this earth.
I was blessed to have Patty stand beside me as my Maid of Honor on my wedding day, and to have her be one of the first to hold my sweet daughter, Madelyne. She was overjoyed about the new baby girl I will soon bring into this world. We loved our girls so much. She always called her daughters “our” girls and would sometimes lovingly refer to them as if they were my sisters.
Some of my most treasured memories with Patty are the simplest ones: sitting in her living room while she rocked in her chair, just talking about life. She loved celebrity gossip, fashion, home decorating, and of course, the RAIDERS. Holidays at Patty’s were always special, filled with beautiful tablescapes and meals made with love. She was an amazing cook. One time she threw together the most amazing meal made with shrimp, but she did it all from scratch and didn’t pay attention to how she made it. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life and I guess it was a once in a lifetime deal because she couldn’t remember how to make it. Ha ha. One of my core childhood memories is standing in the kitchen on Dennis Court while she made fried potatoes, quietly hoping she’d made enough to share. The only time she ever truly got irritated with me was when I’d sneak into her room and steal her snacks, something we laughed about later in life.
I cherish the shopping sprees with my nieces followed by lunch, moments filled with laughter because Patty always said the funniest, most unexpected things. At her core, she was joyful, silly, and incredibly sweet, a soul who brought comfort, laughter, and light wherever she went.
Patty was also intelligent, driven, and accomplished. She built an incredible career in banking, working her way up to become a VP of her branch. She was proud of her work, and her employees respected and appreciated her deeply. She led with kindness, always caring about their growth and development, and she left a meaningful mark on everyone she worked with.
I grieve the time we will not have with her here on earth, but I am comforted knowing she is at peace, held in Heaven, reunited with our mom and grandmother, wrapped in God’s eternal love. I believe her light did not end, it simply changed form.
She will always be my big sister, my second mom, and a piece of my heart forever. I love you Pretty Patty!
