Patricia Gordon

Patricia Ann Gordon, age 72, was born on October 20th, 1947 in West Islip, NY. She passed away on September 22nd, 2020 in Orlando, FL on what would have been her late daughter, Linda’s 48th Birthday. She was also preceded in death by her parents Gloria and John. Patricia is survived by her husband Ken, 3 kids- John, Tammi, and Douglas, her daughters-in-law, Vim and Maria and son-in-law, Jessie. She has 8 amazing grandchildren- Vanessa, Brianne, Marissa, Ryan, Kenneth, Patrick, Rachel, and Sonali. Her family was everything to her. Anybody who knew Pat understood how much she loved children. No matter what she was doing, Grandma Pat, as she was known to so many, would drop what she was doing to play and speak with a child. Time stopped for her when children were around. Her extended family of grandchildren are far too numerous to list. To her friends and co-workers she was family; the mother hen who understood the time to listen and the time to offer life advice. She was generous in all the best ways, but most notably with time, love, and hugs- her hugs were truly legendary. As a wife, her husband, Ken, said it best, “our life was one of celebration, that we went on so many cruises with our children and family, and visited so many countries across the globe. I am so lucky to have found someone I spent many years of my life with." As a dear friend of the family said, "For me and so many of us, Pat was an extra mother figure--an example of a mom with both the tenderest and fiercest of hearts. Today I realize how much her example meant to me. She showed us that being feisty, fiery, and maternal aren’t mutually exclusive. Together, Pat and Ken set a strong example of a long, loving marriage between two people who genuinely adored each other. They taught us that in spite of life’s sorrows, one can create a ‘life of celebration,’ as Ken says. Always celebrate today. Throw the party, take the vacation, make hay while the sun shines. It’s always a good time for joy, even when you don’t think you have a reason for it." That is what Pat would want right now. She would want us to celebrate life. Pat adored Walt Disney World and especially loved visiting the parks with her family. Among real Disney park fans, your favorite ride says a lot about you. Like her mother, Gloria, It’s A Small World was Pat’s favorite ride- a sweet, colorful, idealistic vision of the world, not necessarily as it is, but as we would wish it- a perfectly “Pat” ride. We’ll always think of her when we hear that famous (some say “infamous”) song. Everyone knows the chorus, but the lesser known lyrics don’t get the attention they deserve- “there is just one moon and one golden sun and a smile means friendship to everyone. Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide, it’s a small world after all.” With that in mind, we’ll try to do a little something to make the real world a little more “small world” for Pat every day. Towards the end of her life when things were hard and she couldn't focus to answer simple questions from the nurses and doctors, no matter how sick she was, she could always answer one question, "Who is the President?" With the same tenacity she always had, as though everything was ok with her, she would say his name with anger--lol! We will never forget her love or her fierceness and we will honor her legacy by always making sure we follow the values she instilled in us--as well as voting blue across the board in November. Visitation will take place on Monday, October 5, 2020 from 11:30am to 12:30pm with a Celebration of Life Service beginning at 12:30pm to 1:30pm all at DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751. In Lieu of flowers please make a donation in Patricia Ann Gordon's name to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children... https://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/fundraiser/1399/ The family of Patricia Ann Gordon invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in her loving memory.

Patricia Gordon

October 20, 1947 - September 22, 2020