Obituary of Patricia Elaine Moniot

Patricia Elaine Moniot, of Jamestown, NY, died on January 12, 2024, after a long illness. She was 77. Patricia was born in New Castle, PA, a daughter of the late Joseph A. and Martha Saniga Moniot, and moved with her family in 1951 to Open Meadows, NY. She attended Chautauqua Central School, then majored in mathematics at D'Youville College in Buffalo. After graduation, she worked for a summer as a computer programmer for Roblin Steel Company. She subsequently worked at the Lakewood Library, the Buffalo Law School library, in outpatient billing at Jamestown General Hospital (now part of UPMC Chautauqua), and as a dispatcher for CARTS bus service. She has also worked as a personal care aide and as a counselor on the United Way hotline. Patricia has written two books about her experiences overcoming her mental health disability: Blooming is Tricky Business (2000) and The Present is a Gift (2006). Her experiences have been recounted in a graduate-level textbook Psychosocial Aspects of Disability, by Irmo Parini, Noreen M. Graf, and Michael Millington (Springer, 2011). She sent a copy of her first book to Rosalynn Carter. The former first lady replied in a letter dated 20 August 2001, "Dear Patricia, Thank you for your recent letter and the copy of Blooming is Tricky Business. I admire your courage and willingness to share your story with others and will share your book with my colleagues in The Carter Center Mental Health Program. With appreciation for your thoughtfulness and my warm best wishes, Sincerely, (signed) Rosalynn Carter." Patricia willingly gave of her time as a volunteer. For instance, for 20 years she led a musical group called the Key Notes that performed for Jamestown area nursing homes. Her service was recognized by the 2003 Woman of Distinction Award from the New York State Senate, and the 2009 Volunteer Service Award of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, signed by Barack Obama. In recent years she was a resident of the Heritage Park Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing center in Jamestown. She often played the piano for the other residents. She knew all the old songs that they grew up with, and her music was much appreciated. Patricia is survived by 5 siblings: Joseph V. (Donna) Moniot, Thomas (Milly) Moniot, Robert Moniot, Jeanne (Lynn) Nickerson, and Michael (Rita) Moniot; 8 nephews and nieces; and 9 great-nephews and nieces. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Martha Nickerson and brother, Philip Moniot. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19th at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Lakewood. The Rev. Don Watkins will be celebrant. Burial will be in Panama Union Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials be made to Compeer (https://compeer.org/), an organization supporting mental wellness and for which Pat volunteered for many years.