Patricia Way Goodwin
1955-2022
Patricia Diane, Pat, spent her childhood in rural Upstate New York as next to the youngest in a large family of five boys and five girls. Parents, Donald I. Way, an employee of the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester and Alma Chase Way, a homemaker, married young and worked hard as providers. Unfortunately, the father died at age forty-four leaving Alma to raise the seven younger children.
A Christian neighbor gave mother, Alma, a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, an inspirational book written by esteemed minister Dr. Norman Vincent Peale which encouraged her to lean on her faith and to persevere.
Pat watched her mother work hard outside the home to provide for the family and learned that finishing high school, where she excelled, was the way to prosper. Armed with her diploma, earned while living in Wichita, Kansas near a sister’s family, she had an interesting life moving near siblings in various states finding job opportunities in clerical work. Many occasions and various excursions were enjoyed while she lived near extended family for several years each in the states of Texas, Colorado, California, Virginia and finally Florida.
Always meticulous and professional in her work, Pat particularly enjoyed her last job working in the Dispatch Department for Cox Cable in Virginia while living near another sister. Sadly, she was injured near work as a pedestrian by a moving vehicle. This incident became a life-changing event contributing to a down-spiral of her general health making it difficult to work. A compassionate brother and wife relocated her near them in Port Richey, Florida, where she spent her final years.
In her prime, Pat was a statuesque, attractive gal with many suitors. She was pre-deceased by her ex-husband, Jeffrey Goodwin. During their marriage, the two enjoyed hiking, swimming and many good times near her family in Southern California.
Pat enjoyed making her apartment into a comfortable, homey refuge with a classy touch. She loved celebrating the holidays, especially Christmas, where she wrapped gifts with creative, special touches. She looked forward to baking Christmas cookies and cooking for special occasions. Family was her anchor along with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her, “Sweet Jesus,” with whom she now resides in her final, joyful destination where there are no more worries, pain or sorrow.
Always having high aspirations, Pat, in a noble gesture, donated her whole body to the United Tissue Network in St. Petersburg, FL for medical research with the United Kidney Foundation’s branch in Phoenix, AZ at the University of Phoenix School of Medicine. Her cremated remains will be scattered in a dignified way over the Gulf of Mexico.
Patricia will be remembered in a special mass for “Repose of the Soul” at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Los Alamitos, CA.
Pat, with her irreplaceable wit, was loved and will be missed. Rest in peace, dear sister.
