Pauline Elizabeth Patterson, 89, was born February 22, 1935 in South Solon, Maine. After a period of declining health, Polly was welcomed to Heaven on August 18, 2024, leaving the love of her life, her husband of 71 years, Richard W. Patterson of Spring Hill, Florida.
Pauline & Richard were high school sweethearts, both graduating from Somerset Academy in Athens, Maine. Polly resided in Hartland, Maine, for most of her life, until she and Richard decided to “winter” in Florida, finally becoming fulltime Floridians.
Polly began her working career in the shoe industry in Skowhegan, Maine and she concluded her career as a lunch lady where she worked for over 25 years at the Hartland Consolidated School in Hartland, Maine. Sandwiched between those two jobs she provided loving care for many children in her home and enjoyed recounting stories from those childcare days.
Polly was a lover of Jesus and His Word. Her life was changed in a moment when she received Christ into her heart. That decision started her family on a road of following Christ and from then on, she lived her life sharing the gospel and setting an example for her family and friends.
Polly was talented in many ways and used those talents to help many people and bring great joy into their lives. She was a talented seamstress, a gifted cook and an outstanding housekeeper. She was happiest with a vacuum cleaner in her hands.
Polly was faithful in attending churches in central Maine and in Florida where she developed many enduring friendships. In her life she was a Pioneer Girls leader, Youth Group leader, and Sunday School teacher. Through her daily actions, she was unknowingly an example and mentor to many. She left a legacy of service and was always faithful to her Lord. To know her was to love her.
Polly is survived by her husband, Richard, as well as her daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Michael Cooper all of Spring Hill, Florida; sisters-in-law, Gloria (Edward) Frederick of Norridgewock, ME and Cynthia Tolman of Moultonborough, NH; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a plethora of beloved friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence & Dora (Gardiner) Tolman and siblings Viola Hayden, Shirley Whitman, Clarence Tolman, Jr., Patricia Reed, Betty Lou Smith, James Tolman, William Tolman and Charles Tolman.
Though she is home with Christ and the many friends and family (including all of her siblings) who went before her, it is her earthly family that is feeling the tremendous loss of her passing. We are so happy to know that we will see her in eternity, never to part again.
A Celebration of Pauline’s life will be held in Brooksville, Florida, and again in Hartland, Maine, where she will be interred at the Pine Grove Cemetery. Details will be announced at the convenience of the family.
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