Patricia S. Ehret

She was born on November 8, 1946 and grew up in Monterey Park, CA. Pat graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles in 1969. After teaching elementary school for two years, she and her husband, Steve, who she met in college, joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Venezuela. Pat started a pre-school for children and later served on Peace Corps staff. After completing Peace Corps service in 1974, Pat and Steve moved to Ventura, where she was the director of a learning center for children of migrant farm workers.

In 1983, Patti received her master’s degree in marriage and family counseling from California State University, Northridge and became a licensed psychotherapist. She specialized in providing counseling to severely abused children. She was a member and past president of the Ventura Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). She was in private practice for many years and was also on the staff of Easter Seals and Clinicas del Camino Real.

Patti became a certified SCUBA diver at age 19 and met her husband in the Cal State LA diving club. Together they spent over 45 years traveling the world in search of the perfect dive. As recently as May, they spent two weeks diving in Bonaire and Curacao with the Channel Islands Divers Dive Club. She was also an avid skier for over 40 years and was a member and past vice president of the Los Padres Ski Club. Patti developed a love for boating from her father and was qualified to handle sailboats up to forty feet. One of the highlights of her week was participating in the activities of the Ventura Yacht Club.

She loved to travel and together with Steve lived on three continents and visited over 60 countries. Between 2000 and 2002 they lived in London, England, and in the summer of 2009 they lived in Germany for four months, where Patti provided psychological counseling to the families of US Army personnel deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Patti’s interests and community involvement were wide and varied. She was a member and active supporter of the Ventura County Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Association, the Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers, the Birthday Club and the Woman’s Monthly Dinner Club. She unselfishly donated her time as a volunteer to many local charities and was a crisis counselor for the Red Cross. She fought and beat cancer and was a proud member of the Breast Cancer Survivors Group.

The pride of Patti’s life was her son Matthew and daughter Kristin and the two wonderful additions they brought into the family, Mindy Ehret and Christopher “Ski” Chergoski. They were blessed to have had a mother that gave them not only unbounded love and support but also a zest and love for life.

In addition to her children and their partners, Patti is survived by her husband of 39 years, Steve; mother, Gloria Sanchez, of Monterey Park, Calif.; and brother, Larry Sanchez, and his family, of Las Vegas.

A celebration of Patti’s life will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, July 18, 2010 at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Rd, Ventura.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tri-Counties Easter Seals, Infant Development Program, 10730 Henderson Rd, Ventura, CA 93004.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, Ventura. Condolences may be left at www.tedmayrfuneralhome.com.