Patricia Ann Garvey

PATRICIA A. GARVEY
(nee Smith)

Patricia A. Garvey, 80, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Patricia was born on December 1, 1932, to Chester J. and Wilhelmina J. (Hoks) Smith in Appleton, Wisconsin.

She graduated from Appleton High School in 1950 where she participated on the Key Club and enjoyed working on the yearbook, The Clarion. She met the love of her life, Jim, at the age 14 and was united with him in marriage on June 19, 1954. She treasured every moment they spent with each other over the 58 years they shared together in wedded bliss.

Patricia was a sweet, loving, kind, caring, giving and self-less wife, mother and homemaker who devoted herself to her husband, children and grandchildren. The wonderful times she spent together with family, friends and neighbors were what made her most happy. She was an avid leader who enjoyed all genres from autobiographies to poetry and works of fiction. Patricia was a gourmet cook to the delight of her family. She enjoyed playing bridge with the same group of ladies for over 50 years and considered them among her closest friends. She also loved to play Scrabble and enjoyed knitting and counted cross-stitch. For many years she was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church's “Crafty Ladies” and volunteered to deliver “Meals On Wheels.” She most especially loved nature, particularly when she and her husband, Jim, were fishing and hunting Roughed Grouse in the Northwoods both near their original cottage nicknamed “the Lodge” and her second home named “Lindsmore” (affectionately known as “Grandma's Big House”). She loved all whom she encountered, especially her Up-North friends, her neighbors here in Appleton, the ladies at Hair & Nails Salon, and all of her nieces and nephews.

Patricia is survived by her loving husband, James T. Garvey, Appleton; her five children, Joseph J. Garvey, Appleton; Susan M. Garvey, Scottsdale, AZ; James T. (Anne) Garvey, Jr., Appleton; Barbara A. (Michael) Jackman, Dillon, CO; and Kathleen J. (Andrew) Kramer, Appleton. She is further survived by her beloved grandchildren: Rebecca A. Kramer, Appleton; Jemma N. Jackman and Liam G. Jackman, Dillon, CO. She is also survived by her sister, Caryl (Fred) Scheppler, Marshfield, WI, and her sister-in-law, Barbara A. Smith, Appleton.

Patricia was preceded in death by her son Daniel J. Garvey; her parents, Chester J. and Wilhelmina J. Smith; her twin brother Gerald L. Smith; her sister, Jeanne E. Carson; her brothers James F. Smith and Dean A. Smith; her father-in-law, Joseph N. Garvey and mother-in-law, Adell M. Garvey; her sister-in-law, Janice M. Garvey; her sister-in-law, Nancy L. Abraham; her daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Garvey; and her nephews David Abraham and Mark Smith.

Special thanks to Dr. Dirk Fisher and Dr. Bradley Lauderdale, their staff, and the kind doctors and nurses at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1617 W. Pine Street, Appleton, with Fr. Dennis Ryan officiating. Friends may call directly at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Appleton. Online condolences may be offered at www.wichmannfargo.com