Obituary of Patricia Frances Patterson

Patricia Frances Patterson passed away on December 21, 2014. Some knew her as GÇ£PatsyGÇ¥, others as GÇ£TriciaGÇ¥, and some simply as GÇ£Trish.GÇ¥ By whatever name she was known, she always brought kindness, love and compassion to everyone she met. On April 30, 1952 Patsy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Neal Rhodes in Asheville, NC. She grew up in the town of Mallard Creek, NC with her older brother Curtis Neal Rhodes Jr. She was very active in the Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church youth groups and choir. As a young woman she was bright, funny, and constantly surrounded by family and friends. Patsy gave birth to her son Patrick, on August 6,1976 from her first marriage and her daughter Michelle from her second marriage on August 18,1982. Her love for her children knew no bounds and she always kept them close to her heart. After moving to Florida in 1979 Patsy got “sand in her shoes” and she remained a Florida resident all of her life. She was employed in the aluminum siding industry, starting out as a receptionist and held various positions at different companies. She worked her way up to a sales position at Alumco Industries in Palm Bay in 1991 where she met her husband and great love Russell Gjeltema. They were married on August 30, 2000 and lived happily together for the remainder of her years. In 1996, Patsy started working for Lanier-Ricoh as a customer service representative and was promoted several times, finally to a call center manager over the course of her 18 year career. She was loved and respected by her co-workers as confidant and mentor. Always willing to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on, she invested much of herself into the people she worked with. Throughout her life, Patsy wanted everyone to feel at home as if they were part of the family, a more welcoming and warm person would be difficult to place. Her love and compassion were great strengths and provided sustenance and shelter for so many people in her life. Though she was taken from us too soon, she will be remembered fondly and with love by all. She is survived by her husband, Russell Gjeltema of Palm Bay, FL; her son Patrick Patterson of Brooklyn, NY, her daughter Michelle Stabile of Palm Bay, FL; her 6 year old grandaughter Shelly Stabile; her father Curtis N. (Dick) Rhodes and wife Anne of Shelby, NC and her brother Curtis N. Rhodes, Jr. of Amman, Jordan. Arrangements entrusted to Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, 950 Malabar Road, SE, Palm Bay, FL (321) 724-2224. A gathering of family and friends will be from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, 950 Malabar Road, SE, Palm Bay, FL on Saturday, December 27, 2014.