Patricia Ann Blessington

Patricia Ann Blessington was born to Ellen “Ella” Ehrhart and Thomas Francis Grace in Topeka Kansas. She was the youngest of nine children, has no surviving siblings, and is survived by six children, 11 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. 

After graduating from Topeka’s Capitol Catholic/Hayden High School in 1948, Patricia went to Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas. This advanced education enabled her to work as a phlebotomist, nurse, and lab technician. 

Patricia married David Leonard Blessington in Topeka on February 14, 1953. She stopped work soon after. Her children are Mark, Ellen, Maureen, Mary Jean, Paul, and David Patrick. 

As a homemaker, Patricia constantly cooked, cleaned, shuttled, and guided her six children. She managed the household through many relocations: Kansas City Kansas and Missouri, Rochester Minnesota, Toledo Ohio, Detroit Michigan, Hong Kong, and Tucson. Her husband worked for IBM, which insiders know stands for “I’ve Been Moved.”

After her husband Dave retired in 1985, Patricia went to Zurich Switzerland to study part-time at the C.G. Jung Institute. Two years later, Patricia started a Jungian dream analyst practice in Tucson. Mom’s clients found her by reputation and kept her busy well into her 80s.

Patricia moved in with her daughter Mary when she stopped driving, shopping, and cooking. Then she moved into Tucson’s Amber Lights (a senior living facility) in January 2024. 

Patricia walked vigorously most days at Amber Lights, waving to residents and staff as she passed by. She attended many family activities and went to the theater. She often enjoyed watching tennis and mystery shows and was an avid reader.

Patricia started hospice in her room at Amber Lights in mid-November. She had recently recovered from three minor illnesses in close sequence, but they weakened her. She began to struggle with breathing and needed oxygen and hospice. All her children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to visit her. They showered her with love and received her warmest returns of love and well-wishes. She remained vibrant and loving until her last few days. Patricia died at Amber Lights on December 3, 2024, of systolic heart failure. 

Charitable donations can be made to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, a recent charitable interest of Patricia’s. Her local memorial will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Tucson on December 18 at 10:00 AM.