Local Obits

Obituary of Patricia J. VanNortwick

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Patricia J. VanNortwick, 93, of Cortland, passed away on November 9, 2021, at Cortland Park. Born August 2, 1928, in Brooklyn, Pat had been a Cortland resident for most of her life.

Pat received her Bachelors Degree in 1946 from Albertus Magnus and went on the receive her Masters Degree in Public Health Education from Columbia University. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Catholic Daughters of The Americas Court #919 Cortland. Pat was very involved in her community and gave her time to various organizations. She worked the polls during election season, volunteered at Cortland Memorial Hospital, represented St. Mary’s Church for the annual volunteer recognition event, helped with the Office of the Aging and served on their Board, helped with summer lunch program, crocheted blankets for newborns, helped at the Cortland County tourist booth, Easter Egg Hunts, volunteered with the Red Cross blood drive and the Cancer Society. She visited the sick, loved Beatrix Potter and had a wonderful collection of rabbits. She was impossible to beat at Chinese Checkers. After raising her six children, Pat was a substitute teacher with the Cortland City School District as well as completing the school census. In 2010 she and her late husband of 58 years, Jim were named Senior Citizens of the Year. Pat received the Immaculata Award from the Diocese of Syracuse and was presented the award by the Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse.

Survivors include four daughters; Monica (Patrick) West of Cortland, Mary Grace VanNortwick (Christopher Passarelli) of Liverpool, Patrice VanNortwick (Geri Button) of Utica, Pamela Woodward (Brian Heble) of Denver and two sons; James (Kimberly) of Chicago and Gerald (Lisa) of Los Angeles. Grandchildren; Emily VanNortwick, James Wiliams, Jr. (Eva Bongards), Charlotte VanNortwick, Cole & Clay VanNortwick, Sophia Woodward, John Tyler Normann and Olivia Norman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Prayers of committal will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. The family will be present to receive friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. in the Chapel of Riccardi Funeral Home 69 N. Main St. Cortland, N.Y. Contributions in Pat’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s Parochial School 61 N. Main St. Cortland, N.Y. 13045. Condolences may also be sent to the family by visiting www.riccardifuneralhome.com

PLEASE NOTE: Masks are required for all visitors attending the funeral home visitation or the funeral mass at church.


Obits are submitted to us by local funeral homes. (Wright-Beard, Riccardi, Perkins, Marathon Memorial Chapel, and K L Sharp Funeral Home)

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