Patricia Ann Brickley

Penfield:

Passed away on, October 30th, 2016 at the age of 81.

Predeceased by her, Sisters Mary Grace Berg and Julia Mancini, Brother, Carl Larry Brickley and Niece Barbara West.

She is survived by her loving Nieces, Marianne (James) Ryan, Kathy (Jim Graham) Mancini.

As I sit here listening to my Aunt Patti struggle for breath I remember such good times. I remember when she and I would swing on my swing set when I was young.

I remember her asking me if I had a boyfriend when I was 5. She longed for nothing more than a husband and children. In her final days, plagued by bipolar disease, she would often talk of her upcoming wedding, the day she longed for. She'd talk about her children so the beautiful, loving people who care for her from Heritage Christian Services , bought her a therapy doll she could hold and feed. I remember summers when she'd come to stay with us, she and I would find more things to get into.

Patti had many very special gifts! She was one of the kindest, most loving people I knew and what a sense of humor! She had meningitis as a child which gave her a very high fever and left her with some developmental delay. But she was smart as a whip. She had the kind of intelligence life brings. I believe that's called wisdom.

She loved Elvis, Johnny Cash, Patty Page and Patsy Cline to name a few. It was Elvis who stood above the rest. Most of all she loved to jitterbug. Sadly in her 20's she began to lose her eyesight. Slowly but surely her tunnel vision got worse and worse until it was gone. Yet she saw things most of us miss.

She heard gentleness in a person's voice. She heard the sadness. Every Birthday she'd call me to wish me a happy birthday and she always called me Honey. That always made me feel so loved.

As she aged, she lost most of her mobility. That didn't stop her from jitterbugging! The music would start and she and her friend John would start. John come over to the wheelchair, she'd take the locks off and away they'd go.

John keeps stopping by her room these past days to ask how she is. I'd always tell him she's "comfortable". John would put his hands to his chest and would say, "she's my heart! I'm gonna miss her". He'll be one of her pall bearers.

My dear, loving Patti is surrounded by people who deeply love her!! She's touched their lives and they've touched hers. I've heard so many beautiful stories about her in the past few days. Like when she and her friend Betty were each missing their moms. It was near Mother's Day. Diane another gem from Heritage took them for a walk.

They gathered stones and stood on a bridge over a stream. Each would take turns tossing a stone over the bridge as they recalled a memory of their mother. I was the first baby she was ever trusted to hold. I cherish those pictures.

My son Danny was the 2nd newborn she was allowed to hold. She talked to him frequently in my womb and she'd sing to him. I recall the pride and deep love she had for him as she'd sing "Rock a by Baby" over and over. She adores him and vise versa.

Yesterday he said, "Mom, when she gets to heaven she'll be able to see again and she be able to dance too!" He told me how happy that made him! He also asked her to "tell Grandma I love her!" I will miss Patti terribly yet I know she'll be so happy in heaven.

Saying goodbye is always hard! Saying thank you is easy.

Thank you Patti for being you. You've taught me compassion at a young age. You taught me that what the world may see as imperfections can make one beautiful! I wish I'd learned your sense of fashion! You were always beautiful! You dressed impeccably and you followed the fashion trends. Always a Lady of class!

A very special thank you to the loving people at Heritage Christian Home. You are her family too. Your tender care of her over the past 16 years has been beyond what I could ever have asked for.

Thank you especially to Kim, Doug, Diane, Candace, Karen, Freda and Ryan and to each of you. I wish I could name you all but you know who you are.

Dance away Patti, our Miss Ruby Red Lips. Time to stop the good fight and go for your new, eternal life! You've changed my life and I choose to pass it on.

Family will receive friends on Monday October 31st 2016 from 5PM-7PM, at New Comer Funeral Home, 6 Empire Boulevard.

A Celebration Service of life will be held on Wednesday November 2nd at 11AM at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, 1957 Five Mile Line Rd, Penfield, NY 14526.

Interment will be private in Memory's Garden Cemetery in Albany, NY .

Contributions may be made in Patti's Name to Heritage Christian Services, 349 W Commercial St, East Rochester 14445.