Patricia C. Pellegrini

Obituary Patricia "Pat" C. Pellegrini Patricia "Pat" C. Pellegrini, a devoted mother and engaging friend, died Nov. 30, 2005, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle from complications of lung disease. She was 82. She was born in Tacoma, raised in California, and returned to the Northwest, where she graduated from Tacoma General's School of Nursing in 1949. She worked as a registered nurse at TG, a doctor's office and the former Abilene House nursing home. She later switched gears and worked at the Pierce County Assessor's Office, until she retired more than a decade ago. Pat was a genuine force of nature who lived and died fearlessly. She embraced the world with a joy that kept her heart and spirit young, even as her body grew old and sick. For Pat, the cup of life was always half full, never half empty. She made friends easily and entertained them endlessly with her playful sense of humor and candid observations. She will be remembered by those who loved her for her indomitable joie de vivre, her generous and caring nature and her unrelenting honesty and strength. She was preceded in death by her husband, Julio, and son, Mark. She is survived by her cherished daughter, Neena. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to her favorite charities: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (1-800-822-6344) or The Elephant Sanctuary, P.O. Box 393, Hohenwald, TN 38462 (www.elephants.com). Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, December 9, 2005, 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The Rosary will be recited, Thursday, December 8, 2005, 7:00 p.m. at the Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.