NORWICH – Patricia A. “Pat” White, 75, passed away Tuesday morning, Nov. 9, 2010, in the Residential Health Care Facility of Chenango Memorial Hospital, with her family at her side.
A life-long Norwich resident, Pat was born to Franklin D. and Marjorie Bockus Snell in February of 1935. She attended the Norwich Schools, graduating from Norwich High in the Class of 1954. Pat began her working years with Norwich Shoe Company, remaining there for over 30 years until they closed their doors, then returned to school to take courses in the field of business. This lead to employment with the New York Central Mutual Insurance Company where, upon her retirement in 2008, she had worked for 16 years. She was a well-rounded person with many different interests. First and foremost she loved her family and doted on her grand- and great grandchildren. A good cook whose specialties were a “mean spaghetti or lasagna,” Pat was an avid NASCAR fan, especially of Dale Earnhart, Jr.; liked a good game of golf or bowling, and enjoyed word jumble puzzles. If you interrupted Pat while she was watching her soap operas, she would tell you to go away and come back later. But she always put everyone else first before ever thinking of herself. Prior to her mother’s passing, Pat and Marge were very active with the Women of the Moose, and Pat was a member of the ladies’ auxiliary of both the VFW and American Legion. She was also a dedicated member of the North Broad United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher as well as working on any church activity involving food, such as the Soup and Sandwich nights and funeral luncheons.
Pat is survived by her children and their spouses: Vickie and Tom Burton of Norwich, Richard White and fiancee Maggie Dyer of Oneonta, Sherry and Frank Bopp of Canastota, and Debbie and Richard Webster of Morris; her sisters and their husbands: Mary and Carl Edholm of Oneonta, Donna and David Getsy of S.C., and Rose Marie and Thomas Rowlison of Norwich; and her brothers and their wives: Frederick and Wanda Snell of Nashville, Robert and Priscilla Snell of Georgia, and Donald Snell and James and Donna Snell, all of Norwich; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Snell of Norwich and Deanna Snell of Sherburne. Also surviving are Pat’s grandchildren and their spouses: Charity and Fred Mills, Chris and Lisa Pope, Carrie and Dan Guyer, Peter Burton, Christina and Chris Bensen, Patricia Johnson, Mandy Whaley and fiance Kevin Dowd, Danielle and Ken Granger, Randy Dyer, Matthew Morse, Scott Taylor, Michelle and Bernd Friedrich, Karen and Kevin Westcott, Kelly Head and fiance Jeremy Morris, and Suzanne Brown and fiance Jim Collison; 15 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pat was predeceased by her sister, Alice Cane; brothers Franklin, Richard, John “Jack,” and Charles Snell; and grandson, Korey Head.
Funeral services for Pat will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday from the Broad Street United Methodist Church. The Rev. Charles Taylor of New Berlin will officiate. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday evening from 5-8 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to either Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815; or to the Residential Health Care Facility of Chenango Memorial Hospital, 99 North Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815.
Pat’s family sends special thanks to Pat’s Hospice caregiver, Becky Skotty, and to the RHCF nursing staff for all their kindness and care during her stay there. Our heartfelt gratitude to Rose Marie, Charity, Jennifer, and Tom for their daily overseeing of mom. They were there for her every need.