Patricia Helen Van Pelt

On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, Patricia Helen Van Pelt, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away at the age of 76.

Patricia (Pat) Van Pelt was welcomed into this world on April 10, 1944 by her parents, John and Edith Siemers. They were living in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the time where she would be the first of their four children. She was raised with much love, in a close-knit, Lutheran household with her two sisters, Anita and Kathy, and her little brother, Richard. She had fond memories of her childhood and she enjoyed sharing them with her family. She would describe it as being a much simpler time.

In 1955, her family moved to Culver City, California where Patricia would graduate from Culver City High School in 1962. She worked briefly as an ice cream clerk in a local drug store. That is where she met Ronald Van Pelt, her husband of nearly 60 years. They married on November 3, 1963 and together would raise their three daughters, Linda, Diana, and Donna, and their one son, Ronald. Patricia’s family meant the world to her.

Patricia was a devoted stay-at-home mom and housewife where she enjoyed her life as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. As the matriarch of the family she loved to plan holidays and birthdays. She was a one-woman army in the kitchen. She would make all the food and bake all the desserts from scratch – and everything was delicious. When it came time to actually eat, she would just sit and watch others enjoy her food. Her goal was to please others. Making sure others were feeling good. That is what made her happy.

Patricia was funny and had an amazing talent for telling stories. The stories, of course, were usually about events in her life and typically revolved around the antics of family members. Her hobbies included cooking (always trying new recipes), sewing (there was always a button that needed reattaching or pants that needed to be hemmed), and keeping in contact with friends and family on Facebook.

Throughout her life, Patricia maintained her close relationship with God and as an active member of her church – was known for her kind heart and compassionate spirit. She cared about everyone and would selflessly put the needs of others before her own. She was truly an angel on earth who will be forever missed, but never forgotten.

Patricia is survived by her husband Ronald, her four children, her siblings, as well as, her eight grandchildren (James, Joshua, and Justin (Van Pelt), Jessica and Andrew (Hernandez), Ronnie and Katie (Van Pelt), and Danny Moreno), and her three great grandchildren (Avery, Cataleya, and Achilles).