Obituary of Dorothy E. Patterson

Dorothy Elizabeth Patterson, 108, died peacefully on Sunday, June 24, 2018 at the Chautauqua Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, Dunkirk, NY. She was born on May 6, 1910 to James and Francis Kenote Whalen. Dorothy – who liked to be called Dot, was born in Oxford, NY but lived there only a few years until her mother, a widow with four children, returned to her hometown of Coudersport, PA. Orphaned at the age of 6, Dot was raised in Coudersport by her great aunt and husband, Martin and Elizabeth Kelly McNulty. Dot met Leo "Pat" Patterson. Their courtship started on the dance floors of the traveling big band jazz groups that played in the dance halls of small rural towns in the 1920s. They married on Valentine's Day in 1931 and lived in Galeton, PA until the 1950s when the family returned to Coudersport. Pat passed away in 1974. Employed in the offices of LH Lincoln, Coudersport, she retired in the 1970s, giving her opportunities to travel with friends and family, most notably to her beloved Ireland. Relocating to Fredonia, NY at the age of 90 to be closer to her children, she was a resident of Concord Estates in Fredonia until she was 101. An avid walker and golfer, Dot was a firm believer that a single glass of red wine each day was good for you. Always gracious and loving, she seldom said "I love you" without adding "a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck". Prior to her relocation to New York State, Dot belonged to St. Eulalia Catholic Church, Coudersport, PA and more recently to Holy Trinity, Dunkirk, NY. Dot and Pat had three children: the late Mary Fran Campion of Jamestown, Michaela Ann Golya (Thomas) of Fredonia and Leo Kelly Patterson (Gail Crowe) of Fredonia. She is survived by her son-in-law, John Campion of Jamestown and 8 grandchildren: John Francis Campion of Jamestown; Maura Ann Campion of Jamestown; Michael Leo Campion of Encinitas, CA; Rev. Joseph Jude Campion SSJ of Breaux Bridge, LA; Kathleen Anne Stronz of Jamestown; Christopher James Campion of Cypress TX; Dr. James Patterson Campion of Westfield NY; and Paul Anthony Campion of Louisville, KY. She has 18 great grandchildren: Jason, Jonathan and James W. Campion; Kimesha Northway, Francis Bridges and Sara Best; Michael V. and Matthew Campion; Rachel Deppas Anderson, Ryan and Gregory Deppas; Joseph, Thomas and Anne Campion; and Tevin, Tyler, Desean and Mackenzie Johnson-Campion. There are 15 great-great grandchildren. Dot was preceded in death by her husband and her daughter: Mary Fran Campion, three brothers: James Whalen, George Whalen and Mark Whalen Vater (who was adopted by relatives), a sister: Francis Whalen who died in infancy and a half-sister: Francis Waldron. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in Holy Apostles Parish, Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Jamestown. Rev. Dennis W. Mende will be celebrant. Burial will be in the St Eulalia Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends will be received Saturday in the church hall following the service. Memorials may be made to St. Eulalia Church, 6 Maple St, Coudersport, PA 16915. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.