Bonnie Pat Guisinger

Bonnie Pat Guisinger joined her Lord on March 4th 2021 at 8:45 pm CT at the age of 74. She was surrounded by loved ones and passed peacefully. She fought hard for 60 days with her family by her side every single day.

Pat was born in 1947 to Sylvia Brake and Noveline Clark Gibson in Jonesboro, AR. As a child, Pat picked cotton in the fields in Weiner, AR to earn enough money to buy her own clothes. She enjoyed going the movie theater, working as a car hop on roller skates, and riding horses at Grandma and Grandpa Brake’s home in the country.

Pat moved to CA at the young age of 15 with her younger sister Karen to live with her dad. There Pat enjoyed spending time with her siblings, listening to music and making new friends.

Pat met the love of her life, David W. Guisinger, in June of 1964 in Vallejo CA. David was actually calling someone else when he dialed the wrong number and heard Pats’ voice for the first time. A conversation ensued and David convinced Pat to meet him that evening and it was love at first sight. They spent the next 56 years together!

Pat was actually on restriction when David proposed and she asked her step mom (Margret Brake) if she could get off restriction in order to get married! They were married shortly thereafter on August 28th 1964 and went on to have three daughters. Gina (Linn) was born in Seattle, WA, Deborah (Duffy) in Jonesboro, AR and Marie (Miller) in Orlando, FL.

Pat’s biggest accomplishment was raising her three daughters and caring for her husband the past 56 years. She took pride in her home, ensuring her family had all the essentials and especially made their Christmas’s special. She would start shopping as soon as her girls started school and on Christmas morning, the presents would extend so far from the tree and fill the entire room.

Pat had a fierce love for family and had such a strong bond with her sisters and brothers. She spoke daily with her sister Karen. Sometimes two or three times a day and Karen will miss those calls very much. Pat also spoke to her daughters every single day by calling and saying in her Arkansas accent, “Hey hon... just wanted to say hi.”

She was a talented seamstress, often designing matching outfits for her daughters throughout their childhood years. Her creativity was evident in her paintings and drawings and she loved teaching her grandchildren (Christina and Nikki) how to draw and do wood burnings.

Pat enjoyed creating ceramics with her sister-n-law, Mayanna (who had a ceramic shop) and to this day, she still has all of them. Pat threw nothing away and that’s what her family loved about her. As her daughters where going through photo albums, they found many old letters they’d written to Santa Claus and to them as well. She cherished every single thing from her family and friends.

If you were to ask anyone about what they remember most about Pat, it would probably the fact that she smiled and laughed all the time. Pat had the kindest heart and was eager to befriend any one. When Pat lived in Orlando, there was a little girl down the street named Hope who’s parents would lock her out of the house until they returned. Hope would come over to the house and Mom would sit with her on the front porch and they’d talk and play for hours. One day, Hope came over and asked if Pat would attend a recital at her school in lieu of her parents.

Pat had the biggest heart and just loved everyone. Dave often mentioned that she was the only one who could receive a jury duty notice and get so excited about it. She would play cards and games and just talk all day while being sequestered or awaiting the selection process. Even the judge had the bailiff sent over to tell their group to quiet down!

Pat especially cherished her grandchildren (Christina, Nikki and Josh) and liked to spoil them rotten by having candy and treats available all the time. As soon as their great grandchildren (Bryson and Binjamin) arrived for a visit, they would run to her yelling “Grandma, Grandma” and she’d welcome them with open arms and many treats. Over the past year in Pensacola, it was very special for Pat to be around her daughter Gina, son-n-law Joe, her grandson Josh and especially her two great grandchildren.

One of her all-time favorite past times was playing bingo at the VFW in Orlando for over 40 years. She had many good luck charms and trinkets displayed around her bingo cards and would usually play at least 20 cards at a time! She played at least twice a week and would typically arrive hours early just to talk, laugh and play cards with lifelong friends. One of her very best friends was Sheila and we’re certain they’re together again, laughing and playing bingo in Heaven.

Pat also enjoyed playing poker at home with her family (David, Gina, Debbie and Diane and even her extended family with Owen, Kitty, Al, Robert, Jeff, Shannon and Steve). Pat and Dave moved to Pensacola a little over a year ago and Pat enjoyed taking the short trip to the casino in Atmore, AL with Gina and Joe and their friends. Pat finally had the brand new house she always wanted and enjoyed shopping and decorating the new home with her daughters.

A beautiful letter arrived for Pat from grand daughter, Christina Linn. It was mailed just days prior to Pats’ passing but arrived after her unexpected death. Christina is a true artist which she inherited from her grandmother. The attached image of the hummingbird is what Christina drew and was included with the letter. It must have been the sign we all needed after her death.

Sign from Heaven: (crystalclearnintuitation.com) Hummingbirds are seen as a messenger from heaven because of their pattern to show up in times of grief after the loss of a loved one. Hummingbirds are very sensitive to spiritual energies in their environment, making them the perfect conduit for spiritual messages.

Pat Guisinger was preceded in death by her father Sylvia Brake, her mother Noveline Gibson, Grandpa and Grandma Brake, Grandpa and Grandma Clark, Grandpa and Grandma Dishong, her Brother Lonnie Howard , Brother-in-law Ron Guisinger, Sister-in-law Mayanna Guisinger and nephew Jeff Guisinger.

Pat Guisinger is survived by her spouse David Guisinger of Pensacola, FL, daughter Gina Linn and spouse Joseph Linn of Pensacola, FL, daughter Deborah Duffy and spouse Diane Duffy of Orlando, FL, daughter Marie Miller and spouse Drew Miller of Saint Cloud, FL, her grandchildren Christina Linn, Joshua Linn, Nikki Amos and spouse Brandon Amos of Orlando, FL, great grandchildren Bryson Ilagan and Binjamin Ilagan, her sister Karen Knight and spouse Larry Knight, her sister Brenda Lane and spouse Dalton Lane, her brother Larry Gibson and spouse Lora Gibson, her sister Kathi Monthei, her brother Bobby Howard, her sister Patricia Caruthers, her sister Nina Wasson, her brother-n-law Rick Dishong and spouse Lynn Dishong, her sister-n-law Peggy Kopeck and spouse Bill Kopeck, and many other nieces, nephews, friends and family members throughout the United States.

The below were prayers mom had with her and we wanted to share with family and friends.

An Irish Blessing

“May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”

Mom, no matter what we do today, or where the future takes us tomorrow, we promise to remember all the things you’ve taught us and how very much you love us. And in case we don’t always say it, and sometimes we forget to show it, we wanted you to have this so you know we will always love you. (Unknown author- Love from your daughters Gina, Debbie and Lynn)

“Keep this guardian angel as a reminder of the children you help”

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love commits me here, ever this day Be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen

Mom carried this prayer in her purse:

“Lord, have your angels every day watch and guide us on our way”.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). Pat prayed daily for God to cure cancer and especially childhood cancer.

The family would like to thank all our family and friends who supported us since mom was admitted into ICU on January 4th, 2021 due to Covid-19. Mom held on long enough so that we could be with her during her final hours and we loved on her and prayed the Lord’s Prayer and the prayer she taught us as children when laying down at night. You’ll forever be missed and we love you so much.

Love always,

Dave, Gina, Debbie and Marie