Patricia (Patti) Boerner

Patricia Boerner
May Her Memory Be a Blessing

Patricia (Patti) Boerner, loving wife, amazing mother, doting Gigi,caring sister, kindhearted aunt, adoring Gotti, and devoted friend, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2024 at the age of 83, surrounded by love.

Patricia was born in Newark, NJ. She was raised with her dear sister Tammy in Summit, NJ, where she graduated from Summit High School. She attended Elmira College, an all- women’s
college at the time, and earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.

It was during college that Patti met Richard Boerner, who was attending nearby Cornell University. They married in 1963 and, instead of going on a honeymoon, they went to Fort Benning, GA for Richard’s Army training, followed by two years in Aschaffenburg, Germany. They greatly enjoyed their time in Aschaffenburg and would often regale family members with stories of their time there.

After graduating from college, Patti worked briefly as an elementary school teacher, but her true passion was helping others in need. She volunteered for many years with a variety of programs, including Meals-On-Wheels, Prison Reform and with troubled youth. In her early forties Patti answered her calling for nurturing others and became a Psychiatric Nurse in a county hospital.

She and Richard raised their family for over 30 years in their Saddle River, NJ home, which they designed and built themselves. Patti and Richard moved to Harvard, MA in 2007 to be closer to
their children and grandchildren, but New Jersey always had Patti’s heart.

Patti was an avid runner. She participated in several road races and even earned the title of fastest female finisher in her hometown race. She especially enjoyed running the NYC
Marathon, running her last one with her daughters in 2000 to celebrate her 60th birthday. She loved running, but she may have loved all the swag that she received at the races even more.

After spending many memorable summers vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, Patti and Richard  bought a home in Falmouth, MA. After their daughters gifted them bicycles to enjoy on the
nearby rail trail path, and in their spirit of always giving back, Patti and Richard decided to participate in an epic three-day, 275 mile bike ride from Boston to New York City to raise money
in the fight against AIDS.

Patti was a passionate fundraiser of causes dear to her heart. She and her daughter, Heather, also participated in several Susan G. Komen 3-Day breast cancer walks, and made many
friends through their beloved Pink Angels walking group. In 2015 at the young age of 75, Patti started riding the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) to raise money for Dana Farber Cancer Institute,
a place that had successfully helped her beat cancer twice. Over the course of the next seven years Patti would continue to participate in the PMC, giving back generously to a cause about
which she cared deeply.

Patti also loved playing tennis, bird watching, reading and, most importantly, spending time with her beloved family at their Cape House. She was the epitome of a giver and a doer.

Like Richard, Patti was a lover. She loved her husband, to whom she was married for 59 years and who predeceased her in 2022; her daughters, Leslie and Heather; her favorite sons-in-law,
David Neville and Bob Lammey; her grandchildren, Meghan, Taylor, Wyatt and Lindsey; and all of her beloved dogs.

She will always be remembered as loving, kind, strong, faithful and generous, and she will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held on Saturday, April 6th, at 10 am at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Harvard, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Patti’s honor to The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, 145 Bolton Road, Harvard, MA 01451 or St. Benedict Abbey, 252 Still River Road, Still River, MA 01467.