Pat was born in Rochester, NY on August 26, 1930 to Joseph and Louise Cole. After attending Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester, NY, she graduated magna cum laude as the Home Economics Medalist from Marywood College in Scranton, PA. On August 2, 1952 she married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Dunbeck. During their 61 years of married life, Joe’s career gave Pat and Joe the opportunity to live in many different cities: Corning, NY; Danville, VA; Horseheads, NY; Marion, IN; Goshen, NY; Hickory, NC and Cary, NC. Pat’s kind and gentle presence allowed friendships to grow with ease in each new place they lived. During the first half of their married life, Pat was tirelessly devoted to raising their five children and creating a home filled with love. Through all the years, Pat’s greatest love and devotion has been to her husband and family. Their well-being and happiness were her greatest concern. She joyfully welcomed each new addition to the family. Her wonderful cooking and the delicious feasts she prepared for holidays and special occasions live in our memories.
In each place they lived, Pat was appreciated by her family and the community for her active participation in activities of the church, schools, scouting, and sports. Once the children’s sports years were done, Pat remained a fan of college basketball, professional tennis and professional golf. She participated in family golf outings and ladies’ golf leagues and bridge clubs. The family fondly remembers her sense of humor and her competitive side that emerged during family board and card games. Her excellent sewing skills allowed Pat to create beautiful clothing, quilts and home décor items for her family.
Pat’s professional endeavors, which she pursued after the children were grown, included substitute teacher, real estate agent, and hospital volunteer. In her mid years, Pat and Joe enjoyed wonderful vacations to Hawaii, Alaska, Bermuda, the Bahamas and a family trip to Ireland where Pat could relive the music of her father’s ancestors. Since 1992, Pat, Joe, their children and grandchildren gathered bi-annually at a Carolina beach to celebrate the family.
Pat faced the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s with the unselfish strength that she showed throughout her life. On hearing of her diagnosis she accepted it by saying, "I’ve had a good life. I could not ask God for anything more." The family will carry her memory as a model forever.
Pat is survived by her husband of 61 years, Joseph Dunbeck, Sr. Their devotion to each other during her illness brought the esteem of their entire family, friends, the Heartfield’s community and members of the St. Michael Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group. Pat is also survived by four sons, Joseph Jr. and his wife Mary of Heber City, UT, Peter and his wife Kathy of Westborough, MA, David of Philadelphia, PA, Dan and his wife Sandy of Stoneville, NC; daughter, Peggy Monti and her husband Steve of Cary, NC; 12 grandchildren and their 2 spouses and 1 great-granddaughter.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 PM with a prayer service starting at 8:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, NC.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:00 AM at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Cary, NC, where she was a parishioner for 13 years.
A private inurnment will be at the columbarium at St. Francis Catholic Church, Raleigh, NC.
The family wishes to offer a sincere thanks to all who supported us during Pat's long illness, especially, Fr. Steve Smith, the staff of Heartfield’s Alzheimer's unit, Hospice of Wake County, and Alzheimer's North Carolina, Inc.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Alzheimers North Carolina, Inc., 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609 or Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or a charity of your choosing.
Condolences may be sent through www.brownwynnecary.com
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