Obituary of Patricia A. Mahoney

Patricia A. (Mello) Mahoney, age 79, of Stratford passed away on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Bridgeport Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Frank A. Mahoney. Born in New Bedford, MA on September 27, 1936, she was a beloved daughter of the late Serafim and Mary (Moniz) Mello. Pat was a graduate of UMass Amherst, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She then began her teaching career before becoming an office manager and State of CT social worker before her retirement. She was a founding member of the Fairfield County chapter of the National Society for Autistic Children and a proud member of the American Association of University Women. Pat was a life-long learner with a passion for reading, and was a member of book groups for many years. She was an avid Boston Red Sox and NE Patriots fan. She enjoyed traveling, musical concerts, going to shows and museums with her husband during their retirement. Her greatest joy, however, was found in the time she spent with her family and celebrating moments with them in her cheerful, thoughtful way. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She was a source of inspiration and strength to them. In addition to her beloved husband of 54 years Frank, other survivors include her loving children, Mary Ellen Sharnick of Stratford, Sarah Voccola and her husband Ray of Stratford, Michael Mahoney of Shelton and Carol Boyle and her husband Mike also of Stratford, six cherished grandchildren, Cory and Tyler Sharnick, Chloe and Kyra Voccola and Shannon and Katie Boyle, her brothers, John Mello and his wife Suzanne of MA and Serry Mello and his wife Ginger of NV, a sister, Rosemary Nolan of MA, a brother-in-law, Bob Griswold of TX and a sister-in-law, Janette Mahoney of Milford. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews including a very special niece, Kathy Nolan of Milford, a special cousin, Cathy Pesavento of Newtown, Aunt Vi Nobrega of Fairfield and a special friend Elaine Sansonetti of Stratford. Patricia was predeceased by brothers-in-law, Tenny Nolan and Bob Mahoney and a sister-in-law, Janet Griswold and niece Mary Jo Nolan. Special thanks are extended to the caregivers at Bridgeport Hospital SICU and Dr. Joseph Evangelista. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. directly in St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Autism Speaks, 1060 State Rd., 2nd Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540. For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com