Patricia Eileen Widden
Patty was known to all as a lively, generous and multi-talented Spirit. She passed on peacefully at the age of 93, making her final journey on November 2nd. Patricia Eileen was born on St. Patrick’s Day in her beloved Walla Walla, Washington. She began her piano teaching career and love of music and English literature at Whitman College. She maintained her membership in the Washington State, Eastside, and National Music Teachers Assn for many years.
She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Washington in 1965 while raising 4 children, determined that
she wanted to complete her degree and branch out from her piano career. She became an accomplished writer, completing 3 books about family history in early Seattle and Walla Walla.
Her poetry was published in Seattle, as well as an article about her Uncle Norm Blanchard in the issue of Nor’westing Magazine in February, 2000. Patty wrote some of her articles about learning to sail on the family’s sailboats as members of the Corinthian Yacht Club. She spent many happy hours at the tiller sailing on Puget Sound, delighting in calling out “rail under!” when the boat was going at full hull speed.
Through their retirement years, she and husband Tom were a regular music duo at St Madeline Sophie Catholic Church, where she also served in St. Theresa’s Women’s Guild.
Many lifetime friends came to honor Pat & Tom on their 50th Wedding Anniversary, eventually celebrating 63 years together.
Their “Dinner Club” of friends enjoyed 40+ years of progressive dinners, costume parties, cruises and trips together.
Pat’s Funeral Mass will be at St Madeline Sophie’s Church, 4400 130th Pl SE, Bellevue 98006, on November 18 at 11 AM.
Pat loved her active life of music, art, painting, writer’s group, sailing, golf and travel, and most of all her Family. She is survived by sons Joe Widden & wife Colleen, Tom Widden & wife Becki, daughters Betsy Barnier & Jeanie Widden with her husband Ward Johnson. Her grandchildren include Jim Barnier, Frank Widden, Anna Olson, Dominic Widden, Kathleen Widden-Lavengood, Matt Widden. Her great-grandchildren include Christine & Ellie Widden, A.J. & Marlo Olson, Luke & Kate Barnier.
She wished any donations to be made to any of the following:
Eastside Music Teachers Assn, http://www.eastsidemusicteachers.org/
Cornish College of the Arts, http://www.cornish.edu/music/
The UW School of Music, http://music.washington.edu/funds/piano-scholarship-fund
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Class of 1944, http://www.whitman.edu/giving
8 Responses to “Patricia Eileen Widden”
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She was my Aunt Patty! So Special! So much to be grateful for, especially her gift of her trilogy of books about her mother (our grandmother) “Meda” and
all the history of her life and our ancestors! We will all miss her smiles and charisma but she will always be with us! Rest in Peace and His Love!
WE love and miss you MOM. Somewhere you are listening to your favorite symphony…somewhere you and Dad are dancing the foxtrot..
Dear Betsy, Jeanie and Family,
We Sisters of the Holy Names send you our prayerful sympathy as you give Patricia back to her loving Creator. May your Mother’s new life in God’s Presence be a deep source of peace for you all, and may you know her nearness often.
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Spokane, Washington
Dear Aunty Pat,
Thank you so very much for all you did after our mother died. The summers I spent with your family, Betsy and Jeanie, were and still are fond memories. The night I woke up with a nightmare and you rocked me in your lap and explained that my mom was with the angels in heaven and safe and happy..the Lady and the Tramp peddle-pushers you sewed up for me. You always let me know I was loved. May you rest in peace. Love, Mary Ellen
Precious memories of our times together…So many times filled with fun and laughter, what a joy she was to be around. I will always remember our Sunday dinners, card games, attending Mass,quiet talks together while watering & weeding her flower garden. All the special holidays and road trips Betsy and I shared with her and Tom, trips to Walla Walla, Canada, Lake Oswego, Seal Beach CA, New Port,and of course many,many trips to Sandy Point Shores…Her warmth and kindness was a very special part of my life. I’ll miss her deeply, she was for me my mom too.
So many warm and loving memories of you Grandma. Peaceful days sailing on the lake, life stories at the dinner table, golfing at Sandy Point ! I was so blessed to have you in my life so long, and so thankful that Kristen, Luke and Kate could know you as well. We love you and miss you.
To all of Patty’s loved ones – my love and condolances. I am so happy that Shay and I were able to visit Pat and Tom in 2004 and meet most of their family. God bless you all
How thankful we all are to have spent time within the circle of Patty’s love and enthusiasm for life. I will always remember her organizing the family geneology tableau at Uncle Collie’s 90th birthday. Who can forget the woman who patiently helped me to understand what “second cousin, once removed” meant. With all of our cousins, these distinctions mattered! Her lasting gift is the importance of family, demonstrated by the painstaking research she put into the Meda books and her incredibly generous gift to all of us when she had them published. All of our children have such a sense of the family history thanks to “Aunt” Patty. She taught me that “Aunt” isn’t genealogically correct, but she has always remained Aunt Patty in my heart. My condolences to you all for the loss of a life lived so splendidly. The communion of saints is richer by far this day.
Love,
Jean