Patricia Ann Watkins

Patricia Ann (Schaefer) Watkins, aged 91 years young, of Ithaca NY passed away peacefully at home with her family & friends on July 9th, 2024. If you ever met Pat, you would know within a few minutes that she was a proud native of Scranton, Pennsylvania. While she was at it, Pat would have discovered which of your family & friends were also from Scranton! 

Patsy Ann, as she was known to her family, was born to loving parents, Ruth and James Schaefer in Scranton on December 11th, 1932. Because of the Depression, Pat lived with her maternal grandparents in Brooklyn/Coney Island, but it was a colorful & idyllic childhood! Patsy Ann moved back with her parents to Green Ridge, Scranton in the mid 40's.

In 1950, Patricia graduated from Scranton North High School and went on to attend Marywood College in Scranton, majoring in accounting. Pat & Bas made it a point to attend almost every one of their high school class reunions up until 2015. 

On July 11th, 1953, a beautiful summer morning, Patricia married the love of her life, Phillip Basil Watkins, Jr. They had been sweethearts since middle school! Since Phil was in the Air Force at the time, they lived first in Baton Rouge, LA. After his discharge, they moved north to Binghamton because Phil had found employment up there. 

Though of German and British stock, Patricia embraced Basil's Welsh heritage becoming an honorary Cymraes. She visited Wales several times and studied Welsh culture & history like it was her own.

An accomplished third generation seamstress, Patricia made much of her own clothing, special occasion clothes for her kids and household items. She excelled at embroidery and cross-stitch. Pat was a terrific cook although her husband would sometimes jokingly lament that she could never make the same dish, exactly the same, twice. While breakfast was her favorite meal, Pat adored dinners of tacos, Asian food and especially her Old Forge style pizza with a small glass of cold beer!

Pat and her true love, Bas (a master gardener), enjoyed their lovely gardens at their home of nearly 40 years on June Street Endicott. After surviving a very serious bout of Breast Cancer, Pat took early retirement to travel with Bas. Their trips were amazingly! They traveled the US, Canada, Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, North Africa, the Soviet Union and China. Curiosity about the world, people and food motivated Pat in all of her kind interactions. Patricia inquired of everyone she met, “Are you getting enough rest?", or “Have you eaten yet? Are you hungry?” Pat always enjoyed visitors and was often very insightful, and always ready with a compliment ("That's a nice color on you!"), a kind word and a smile!

Pat brought great enthusiasm to her life and various employments beginning with the Scranton (International) Salt Company, as a waitress in the Poconos, and was a member of a touring women's singing ensemble (an early 'Girl Group'!) in the early 1950's. She enjoyed her friendships and sharing her stories of being a Punch Card Operator at GE Westover in Johnson City in the mid 50's, as an award winning Avon Lady and as a grocery product demonstrator in the early 1970’s. Pat was proud of the many happy years she worked as the Purchasing Account Clerk for the Union Endicott Central School District on Broad Street.

One of the great celebrations of Patricia's life was her family, she was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and cousin. Some will remember Pat as a dedicated Girl Scout leader in West Corners & as a UE Tigers Pride band parent volunteer and chaperone in the 1970's & 80's. She was always busy, attending every one of her children’s and grandchildren’s school events and music performances. Up until 2020, she had never missed a single one of Eric's music events up to and including his Savage club performances! Pat lamented that Philip and Maribeth’s families having moved too far away for her to be involved in their children’s lives as she & Basil had with the other grandchildren. They were volunteer grandparents at the Owego Elementary School and read to children at the libraries in Endicott, Vestal, & Owego. 

Following her precious husband’s passing in 2016, Patricia moved to Longview Retirement Community in Ithaca where she immediately found a wonderful group of friends and discovered a love and talent for art. As a result of the pandemic, Pat moved in with her caring family: Eric Watkins, Brenda Wickes, and Liam Wickes-Do, on the hill in Cayuga Heights to enjoy her final years.

A lover of the arts, Pat loved classic movies, musicals and her singers, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn and even Crosby, Sills, Nash & Young. Patricia also ushered for a number of years at both the Cider Mill Playhouse in Endicott and the Anderson Center at Binghamton University. Later she was devoted season ticket holder for Ithaca College Theatre & Dance productions. Up until the last couple of months of her life, Pat was a voracious reader of fiction and non-fiction, with over 1000 books on her recent “books read“ list.

Pat brought great joy to the lives of special friends Brenda & Sharon Wickes and her ever attentive Caregiver Tammi Ferris. The accompanying photo is of a recent day of pampering and fun in her private garden, “Patricia’s Way”, enjoying the sunshine, her flowers and the southern magnolia tree at home in Cayuga Heights.

Pat was predeceased by her husband of 63 years (Phillip Basil Watkins, Jr.) and their daughter (Maribeth Watkins McCue). She is survived by her sons; Eric Neal Watkins of Ithaca, NY, and Philip James (Kristina) Watkins of Fairport, NY; five grandchildren, two step grandchildren, one great grandson - Alexander, her "Great One", several beloved cousins, many dear friends and two special canine companions, big Rocky & her little Baloo.

After a beautiful private burial service on July 14th, 2024 at Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, Newfield, NY, a Welsh Wake was held in her honor.

Patricia Ann Watkins was truly an amazing woman! She touched so many lives and will be sorely missed. Donations in her memory can be made to Hospicare Ithaca or to Greensprings.