Patricia “Pat” Gandy passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on February 18, 2022. Born on November 1, 1942, in Glenshaw, PA, Pat was the third oldest of nine children. She attended Marycrest High School and joined the Sisters of Divine Providence in Allison Park, PA. During her ten years in the convent, she obtained a BA in History and taught a variety of subjects at St Basil (Carrick, PA), St Anne (Castle Shannon, PA), and Nativity (South Park, PA). During the 1960’s she was a Principal at Nativity and taught prisoners in Pittsburgh. She even marched in Washington, DC to correct issues of social injustice. During the early 1970’s, Pat made the difficult decision to leave the convent and move to Somers Point, NJ. In South Jersey, Pat took a job with the Somers Point School District where she obtained a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling, taught special education, and eventually led the Child Study Team. It was the summer of 1978 and Pat decided to host a Christmas party in July. It was there she met a humble craftsmen named Jim. He offered to fix her apartment and take her to see the Ice Capades. They were smitten. Nights of picnics on the beach, roller skating, and volleyball soon followed. It was the President’s Day Snowstorm of 1979 and South Jersey recorded two feet of snow. Jim drove to Pat’s apartment, ran upstairs, and burst into her apartment with a ring. He was greeted by a strange man screaming from the shower. Jim had the wrong apartment! Eventually everything worked out and they were married in April 1979. Fifteen months later they were blessed with a son named Christopher. At 39, Pat was grateful for a son and she loved being a mother. Pat had a big heart and treasured her family with her home always open to friends and family. She loved organizing and creating order out of chaos. Pat took immense pleasure in the simple things: playing the piano and a slot machine, reading a book, and gardening as well as enjoying a good Chester’s Danish, yellow daisies, and black licorice.
Pat will join her husband, Jim; her stepson Jack; her sisters Susan (Bill) and Mary Ann, her brother Clarence; her brother-in-law Ken and her parents Clarence and Anna in heaven. Pat is survived by her son Chris (Heather) and her grandchildren Liam, Anna, and Jackie; stepchildren Jim (Anna), Theresa (Mike), Patty (Ted), and her daughter-in-law Jody (Joe); grandchildren Mike (Angela), Lauren (Salaam) and Dillon; great grandchildren, Leila, Adam, Zack, and Sawyer; brothers John (Jeanne), Tom (Charise); sisters Lois (Ron), Ginny(Paul), Irene; brother-in-law Jack and sister-in-law Judy. There was always a special place in her heart and home for Lynn, Sabiha, Tasfia, Yakeen, Baseema, and their angel Maliha. The family is grateful for the love, compassion, and unwavering care of Noel, Kris, and Kaye. A vistiation will be held at Adams-Perfect Funeral Homes, Inc. 1650 New Road Northfield, NJ 08225 from 9:00-10:30 AM Saturday February 26, 2022 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Church 724 Maple Avenue Linwood, NJ 08221. Interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Mays Landing, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Cure PSP (https://www.psp.org/). Arrangement by and condolences at www.adams-perfect.com