Obituary for Mary Lucile Patrina (Burke)
Mary Lucile Patrina of Simsbury peacefully passed away on August 21, 2019 to join her beloved husband in eternal rest. Mary had the endless drive to learn and she shared her wisdom, council, and love with many family members and friends throughout her 92 years of life.
Mary Lou was born in New York City on January 26, 1927 to John and Lucile (Klein) Burke. She graduated from Queens College, City University of New York, with a degree in Economics and worked as a Corporate Statistician in NYC. She married Joseph A. Patrina in 1950.
In 1964 the family moved to Simsbury. Mary Lou was a great partner to her husband Joe. Together they raised their four children and she became the world-wide ambassador for Joe’s international work at Combustion Engineering. Mary Lou often said, “...for 53 years he gave me the world.”
Mary Lou was an extremely active member of the Simsbury community for 40 years. Mary Lou was a volunteer on a wide variety of initiatives. These included Simsbury Community TV where she spent twenty years as a board member and hosted a monthly TV program “What’s Going on in Simsbury” for twelve years. She also volunteered for Saint Mary’s CYO School of Religion and served on the Advisory Council for the Centennial Theater at Westminster School. She also was proud to serve on the executive board that runs the all-volunteer Second Chance Shop.
Her greatest passion however was reserved for her town-wide committees. She served on the Simsbury Cultural, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Simsbury Arts Council for 32 years. She chaired the Parks and Rec Commission for 6 years and during that period they developed the Curtiss Soccer Fields, renovated the Memorial Field Complex. They also established a Town Open Space Program as well as the original bike trails through Simsbury. On the Arts Council she chaired major events including the original Hartford Symphony concerts in town and Opening Night (currently Simsbury Celebrates). Her most passionate community endeavor was her 25 years of service on the Simsbury Public Building Committee. She was pleased to have had a part in overseeing major improvements to Simsbury’s town owned buildings including all of the schools, the Simsbury Farms complex, Eno Auditorium, and the Simsbury Public Library.
Due to her countless contributions to the town she loved, in 1988 she was honored as a “Simsbury Hometown Hero”.
Mary Lou was predeceased by her husband Joseph A. Patrina, her brother Dr. John Burke of New York, her sister Dolores Burke and her daughter-in-law Janna Patrina.
She is survived by her four children, Joseph Jr. and his wife Laura of Simsbury; daughter Carol Brown and husband Kenneth of Simsbury; James and his wife Valerie of Simsbury; Stephen and his wife Andrea of Simsbury. She leaves fourteen grandchildren, James Martocchio and his wife Lisa; Laura Boss and her husband James; Scott Brown and his wife Thuha; Christine Donohue and her husband Luke; Cody, Tara, Jolene, Joseph, Nicole, Allison, John (Jack), Nicholas, Evan and Julianne Patrina. Mary Lou also leaves eight great-grandchildren, Kayla, Lucille and Eleanor Boss; Dean and Russell Martocchio; Maxwell and Madison Brown; and Jane Donohue.
She also leaves her sister-in-law Eileen Arciprete and her family, nephew John Burke Jr. and family, niece Kellianne Burke and a number of cousins. She also leaves close neighbors and friends from Simsbury who she considered family, including her friends at 1 West Street.
Calling hours will be from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 29th at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Mary Lou will be buried alongside her beloved husband on Friday, August 30th at 10:30 am at Simsbury Cemetery, 16 Plank Hill Road followed by a gathering at Hop Meadow Country Club.
The family would like to thank the staff of McLean’s Post Acute and Long-Term Care Unit for their compassion and care given to her the past few weeks. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Simsbury Flower Bridge at P.O. Box 314, West Simsbury, Ct. 06092 or, to the White Memorial Fountain in Weatogue at P.O. Box 2, Simsbury , Ct. 06070.
Please visit Mary’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
Mary Lou was born in New York City on January 26, 1927 to John and Lucile (Klein) Burke. She graduated from Queens College, City University of New York, with a degree in Economics and worked as a Corporate Statistician in NYC. She married Joseph A. Patrina in 1950.
In 1964 the family moved to Simsbury. Mary Lou was a great partner to her husband Joe. Together they raised their four children and she became the world-wide ambassador for Joe’s international work at Combustion Engineering. Mary Lou often said, “...for 53 years he gave me the world.”
Mary Lou was an extremely active member of the Simsbury community for 40 years. Mary Lou was a volunteer on a wide variety of initiatives. These included Simsbury Community TV where she spent twenty years as a board member and hosted a monthly TV program “What’s Going on in Simsbury” for twelve years. She also volunteered for Saint Mary’s CYO School of Religion and served on the Advisory Council for the Centennial Theater at Westminster School. She also was proud to serve on the executive board that runs the all-volunteer Second Chance Shop.
Her greatest passion however was reserved for her town-wide committees. She served on the Simsbury Cultural, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Simsbury Arts Council for 32 years. She chaired the Parks and Rec Commission for 6 years and during that period they developed the Curtiss Soccer Fields, renovated the Memorial Field Complex. They also established a Town Open Space Program as well as the original bike trails through Simsbury. On the Arts Council she chaired major events including the original Hartford Symphony concerts in town and Opening Night (currently Simsbury Celebrates). Her most passionate community endeavor was her 25 years of service on the Simsbury Public Building Committee. She was pleased to have had a part in overseeing major improvements to Simsbury’s town owned buildings including all of the schools, the Simsbury Farms complex, Eno Auditorium, and the Simsbury Public Library.
Due to her countless contributions to the town she loved, in 1988 she was honored as a “Simsbury Hometown Hero”.
Mary Lou was predeceased by her husband Joseph A. Patrina, her brother Dr. John Burke of New York, her sister Dolores Burke and her daughter-in-law Janna Patrina.
She is survived by her four children, Joseph Jr. and his wife Laura of Simsbury; daughter Carol Brown and husband Kenneth of Simsbury; James and his wife Valerie of Simsbury; Stephen and his wife Andrea of Simsbury. She leaves fourteen grandchildren, James Martocchio and his wife Lisa; Laura Boss and her husband James; Scott Brown and his wife Thuha; Christine Donohue and her husband Luke; Cody, Tara, Jolene, Joseph, Nicole, Allison, John (Jack), Nicholas, Evan and Julianne Patrina. Mary Lou also leaves eight great-grandchildren, Kayla, Lucille and Eleanor Boss; Dean and Russell Martocchio; Maxwell and Madison Brown; and Jane Donohue.
She also leaves her sister-in-law Eileen Arciprete and her family, nephew John Burke Jr. and family, niece Kellianne Burke and a number of cousins. She also leaves close neighbors and friends from Simsbury who she considered family, including her friends at 1 West Street.
Calling hours will be from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 29th at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Mary Lou will be buried alongside her beloved husband on Friday, August 30th at 10:30 am at Simsbury Cemetery, 16 Plank Hill Road followed by a gathering at Hop Meadow Country Club.
The family would like to thank the staff of McLean’s Post Acute and Long-Term Care Unit for their compassion and care given to her the past few weeks. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Simsbury Flower Bridge at P.O. Box 314, West Simsbury, Ct. 06092 or, to the White Memorial Fountain in Weatogue at P.O. Box 2, Simsbury , Ct. 06070.
Please visit Mary’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com