Hi. Thank you for coming today-
I wanted to start this afternoon but saying to each of you, a sincere thank you

My dad, brother, our spouses, your children and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support we have received over the past 2 months.

There are no words to express how grateful-thank you – from the bottom of our hearts.
You held us _ lifted us up during one of the hardest times of our lives and it will not be forgotten


I have the honor of opening today’s celebration of life … a life filled with adventure, at times struggle … but most of all love.

My mom, Patricia—Pat, Mom, Mommom, Sister, Aunt, cousn, friend neighbor and neighbor—

was raised in a close-knit Italian Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia.

In those days, families like my moms all lived within a block or two of each other.

Her childhood was filled with uncles, aunts and cousins all of whom lived literally within shouting distance of each other.
This neighborhood... Read more is where she formed her first lifelong friends:

Like my Aunt Sissy, who will speak after me, and “the Harringtons,” who are here today.

She cherished her childhood memories, especially the summers spent at the lake house her father (my beloved Poppop) built.

Just like Philadelphia, her uncles, aunts and cousin also had homes on the same street at the lake.

She was extremely close to her five siblings.
Family was always a main theme in my mom’s life.
The large (often kinda crazy) extended family was always a part of all of our lives.

In high school, she worked at the neighborhood diner, Tiny’s. That’s where my dad asked her to accompany him to his prom.

When my dad was called to serve during the Vietnam war, she traveled by train to visit him in North Carolina on multiple occasions.

After basic training, my dad called her to tell her that was not being sent to the front lines but would instead be stationed in Alaska. Her response was “Ok then, we are getting married.”
By the time he came home for leave his entire wedding was planned and booked even down to his tuxedo appointment.
She had organized an entire wedding in two weeks time!

They honeymooned in the Poconos at Mount Airy lodge, which at the time was more like the resort from Dirty Dancing than what it is now. Each night at dinner, they were seated with several other couples. The groups of couples decided to go skeet shooting one day. Even though the shotgun was bigger than my mom- she was a near perfect shot- putting everyone else to shame.

Shortly after, Mom, along with her sister Rose and dear friend J, drove my dad’s 1967 GTX (which was a car built more for street racing than actual travel ) across country to Alaska.

During that trip, they drove off the Alaska Canadian Highway (which was a dirt road at the time) and landed in a ditch. When an RV stopped to ask if they could help, my mom hopped into that RV with strangers and traveled to a nearby diner to get help!

These stories illustrate her adventurous spirit, strength and determination. S
he said to me one day last month, I don’t know why people keep saying I am strong.

I just said “because you are.”

While in Alaska she made friends easily and quickly, some of whom remained lifelong friends.

I came along shortly after my father was discharged. My mom was sick on their ferry ride home, but it was not seasickness. I wasn’t born in Alaska, but my life did technically start there😊

When my brother was born six years later, we moved from Philadelphia to Pennsauken, NJ where my parents lived for 47 years—it’s still the house my dad lives in today.

When it became clear that her time was coming, she told us she wanted to come home, to be where the love was.

Throughout those 47 years she developed friendships that lasted years with her neighbors- past and current. These friends were weaved into the fabric of our lives.

Throughout our childhoods and our children’s lives, she volunteered at our and their schools and events.

Most memorable for me when she taught music as a volunteer at St. Peter’s School – that same year she directed our elementary school production of a Muppet movie.

I was so annoyed that she said I could not have a lead role because people would think it was favoritism😊 But it in the end it was a wonderful show and my friends and I had a great time!

She was an amazing mommom. She truly helped raise our children.
Both my sons recall their time at mommom’s with great fondness
… I remember how hard it was to get them to come home with me …

My kids recall shopping trips, special lunches and playing pretend with mommom – In recent years, she and Nesta would do some amazing projects together. My favorite is the story of the four-course dinner she helped him prepare for his mom, dad and brother.

She loved to celebrate every milestone of each of their lives with joy and excitement, Being a mommom was one of her greatest joys.

Throughout her life, she loved to plan—especially vacations. Whether it was to the Jersey Shore or Orlando, we’d barely be back before she was planning the next trip. She loved those trips; surrounded by family and friends, making every moment count.

She also loved her garden and the pool—whether she was enjoying quiet moments or entertaining guests, it was always special. Making things beautiful
But her greatest job was spending time with the people she loved, family and friends

She loved to make big meals for the family. Those meals were more about having everyone together than the food itself - although she, like me, was taught to cook the master my Nana Maglione so it always delicious as well.

I will forever be grateful for the time we spent together in her final month. During that time, I learned just how many lives she touched, supported, and inspired. It was inspiring

We talked a lot in those final days. One of the things we talked about was this day. She really wanted today to be a happy occasion, filled with memories and stories. She said the best part of any funeral is the lunch. She didn’t mean the food and drink.
She meant everyone sharing memories and enjoying being together in a relaxed way.

So, thank you for helping us bring her vision to life. As we gather here, please continue to help us honor her wish
Linger here over lunch
Take time to laugh and talk
Most of all share your memories of her with each other.

I want to close by reading an excerpt from her favorite book, she called it her bible, It was a book she used everyday
This except is the one she asked me to read me just days before she passed into the light … Read less

Hi. Thank you for coming today-
I wanted to start this afternoon but saying to each of you, a sincere thank you

My dad, brother, our spouses, your children and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support we have received over the past 2 months.

There are no words to express how grateful-thank you – from the bottom of our hearts.
You held us _ lifted us up during one of the hardest times of our lives and it will not be forgotten


I have the honor of opening today’s... Read more celebration of life … a life filled with adventure, at times struggle … but most of all love.

My mom, Patricia—Pat, Mom, Mommom, Sister, Aunt, cousn, friend neighbor and neighbor—

was raised in a close-knit Italian Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia.

In those days, families like my moms all lived within a block or two of each other.

Her childhood was filled with uncles, aunts and cousins all of whom lived literally within shouting distance of each other.
This neighborhood is where she formed her first lifelong friends:

Like my Aunt Sissy, who will speak after me, and “the Harringtons,” who are here today.

She cherished her childhood memories, especially the summers spent at the lake house her father (my beloved Poppop) built.

Just like Philadelphia, her uncles, aunts and cousin also had homes on the same street at the lake.

She was extremely close to her five siblings.
Family was always a main theme in my mom’s life.
The large (often kinda crazy) extended family was always a part of all of our lives.

In high school, she worked at the neighborhood diner, Tiny’s. That’s where my dad asked her to accompany him to his prom.

When my dad was called to serve during the Vietnam war, she traveled by train to visit him in North Carolina on multiple occasions.

After basic training, my dad called her to tell her that was not being sent to the front lines but would instead be stationed in Alaska. Her response was “Ok then, we are getting married.”
By the time he came home for leave his entire wedding was planned and booked even down to his tuxedo appointment.
She had organized an entire wedding in two weeks time!

They honeymooned in the Poconos at Mount Airy lodge, which at the time was more like the resort from Dirty Dancing than what it is now. Each night at dinner, they were seated with several other couples. The groups of couples decided to go skeet shooting one day. Even though the shotgun was bigger than my mom- she was a near perfect shot- putting everyone else to shame.

Shortly after, Mom, along with her sister Rose and dear friend J, drove my dad’s 1967 GTX (which was a car built more for street racing than actual travel ) across country to Alaska.

During that trip, they drove off the Alaska Canadian Highway (which was a dirt road at the time) and landed in a ditch. When an RV stopped to ask if they could help, my mom hopped into that RV with strangers and traveled to a nearby diner to get help!

These stories illustrate her adventurous spirit, strength and determination. S
he said to me one day last month, I don’t know why people keep saying I am strong.

I just said “because you are.”

While in Alaska she made friends easily and quickly, some of whom remained lifelong friends.

I came along shortly after my father was discharged. My mom was sick on their ferry ride home, but it was not seasickness. I wasn’t born in Alaska, but my life did technically start there😊

When my brother was born six years later, we moved from Philadelphia to Pennsauken, NJ where my parents lived for 47 years—it’s still the house my dad lives in today.

When it became clear that her time was coming, she told us she wanted to come home, to be where the love was.

Throughout those 47 years she developed friendships that lasted years with her neighbors- past and current. These friends were weaved into the fabric of our lives.

Throughout our childhoods and our children’s lives, she volunteered at our and their schools and events.

Most memorable for me when she taught music as a volunteer at St. Peter’s School – that same year she directed our elementary school production of a Muppet movie.

I was so annoyed that she said I could not have a lead role because people would think it was favoritism😊 But it in the end it was a wonderful show and my friends and I had a great time!

She was an amazing mommom. She truly helped raise our children.
Both my sons recall their time at mommom’s with great fondness
… I remember how hard it was to get them to come home with me …

My kids recall shopping trips, special lunches and playing pretend with mommom – In recent years, she and Nesta would do some amazing projects together. My favorite is the story of the four-course dinner she helped him prepare for his mom, dad and brother.

She loved to celebrate every milestone of each of their lives with joy and excitement, Being a mommom was one of her greatest joys.

Throughout her life, she loved to plan—especially vacations. Whether it was to the Jersey Shore or Orlando, we’d barely be back before she was planning the next trip. She loved those trips; surrounded by family and friends, making every moment count.

She also loved her garden and the pool—whether she was enjoying quiet moments or entertaining guests, it was always special. Making things beautiful
But her greatest job was spending time with the people she loved, family and friends

She loved to make big meals for the family. Those meals were more about having everyone together than the food itself - although she, like me, was taught to cook the master my Nana Maglione so it always delicious as well.

I will forever be grateful for the time we spent together in her final month. During that time, I learned just how many lives she touched, supported, and inspired. It was inspiring

We talked a lot in those final days. One of the things we talked about was this day. She really wanted today to be a happy occasion, filled with memories and stories. She said the best part of any funeral is the lunch. She didn’t mean the food and drink.
She meant everyone sharing memories and enjoying being together in a relaxed way.

So, thank you for helping us bring her vision to life. As we gather here, please continue to help us honor her wish
Linger here over lunch
Take time to laugh and talk
Most of all share your memories of her with each other.

I want to close by reading an excerpt from her favorite book, she called it her bible, It was a book she used everyday
This except is the one she asked me to read me just days before she passed into the light … Read less