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Patricia Kilkenny Kilmartin
February 25, 1928 ~ July 2, 2017
Patricia K. Kilmartin of Pebble Beach, passed away peacefully at 89 on July 2, following a long period of declining health. She will finally be reunited in God's Kingdom with her pre-deceased spouses, Joseph Edward Parker Jr. (June 1965) and John "Jack" Francis Kilmartin (July 2004).
Patti was the daughter of Thomas Anthony Kilkenny and Ann Evelyn Watson of Dixon, California. She was the youngest of 6 children and is pre-deceased by her siblings Robert Kilkenny, Marie Kilkenny Sisk, Thomas Kilkenny, and Edward Kilkenny. She is survived by her sister Helen Kilkenny Mikos.
Patti grew up on a farm in Dixon, CA before moving to San Francisco where she worked as a dental assistant. There she met her first husband Major Joseph E. Parker, Jr. U.S. Army. They married in 1951 and had four children while on various duty tours around the U.S. and in Germany. Tragically, Major Parker was killed during military service in Vietnam in 1965, leaving her the challenge of raising their four young children alone. Fortunately, she was blessed to find love again when she met Jack Kilmartin, a retail executive with Mervyn's. He was also recently widowed, and responsible for five children of his own. They married on July 7, 1967 and united nine children into one family in Lafayette, moving the family to Hillsborough the following year.
Patti became a regular 9-hole golfer, enjoyed evenings playing bridge with close friends, and traveling with Jack, particularly on family vacations to Oregon, Hawaii, Tahoe and elsewhere adding the adventure of travels as a family group of eleven, swollen by spouses and grandchildren as the years passed. She also loved to play the piano and sing and shared her love of music with St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Burlingame and as a volunteer at various retirement centers in San Mateo. However, her priority was her family, providing care and support for Jack's career at Mervyn's and their family as it grew with the eventual addition of sons and daughters in-law, seventeen grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren. She started a wonderful family tradition of hosting the Thanksgiving holiday for direct and extended family, as they gathered from distant parts of the country.
After Jack's retirement as CEO of Mervyn's, they moved from Hillsborough to Pebble Beach, where they became members of Monterey Peninsula Country Club and became active at St. Angela's Parish in Pacific Grove. Patti also joined Casa Abrego in Monterey. They continued their long-standing support for Catholic Charities in San Francisco and Monterey, as well as Santa Clara University. Patti was invested as a Dame in the Order of Malta in 1991. Together with Jack she went on 5 pilgrimages to Lourdes, France with the Order where Patti's soaring soprano voice was a striking addition to evening song fests at a local Irish pub.
Patti leaves behind those who remember their wonderful times spent with her, especially her children and their spouses, Robert Kilmartin (Jane), Shannon Kilmartin Kuder (Stan), Debbie Parker Pisciotta (Joe), Kathleen Kilmartin Schultz (Doug), Greg Parker (Candace), Tracy Kilmartin Sardelli (Hank), Kelly Parker, Katherine Parker Glaessner (Peter), John Kilmartin: 17 grandchildren and their spouses, Heather Kilmartin Russell (Scott), Ryan Kuder (Mandy), Darryl Kuder (Mercedes), Allison Kuder Shepstone (Tim), Annette Pisciotta Gramian (Kevin), Joseph Pisciotta, Marissa Spokes, Brendan Parker, Colin Parker, Carey Parker, Megan Sardelli Harawi (Jospeh), Amy Sardelli, Patrick Glaessner, Emily Glaessner, Parker Glaessner, Kyle Kilmartin, Connor Kilmartin; and 15 great grandchildren, Paige, Catherine & Maille Phillips, Hope Russell; Ashley, Jack and Charlie Kuder; Vaughn, Declan and Guinevere Kuder; Brayden Shepstone; Konrad and Madeline Gramian, Henry and Rami Harawi, and many nieces, nephews and cousins from the large Kilkenny clan.
Patti was a devout Catholic and a devoted wife and mother, who blessed us all with her Irish humor, song and quick wit. She will be greatly missed by her children, family and friends. May she Rest in Peace and may Perpetual Light shine upon her.
A mass of Christian burial will be on July 13 at St. Angela's Catholic Church in Pacific Grove at 11:00am, with private internment the next day. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to The Community Foundation for Monterey County.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by The Paul Mortuary.
2 Entries
July 13, 2017
Laurie Kilmartin
This is such a beautiful obituary, I am amazed at Aunt Patti's accomplishments and her perseverance in the face of tragedy. She began a Thanksgiving tradition that I can barely explain to friends. May she rest in eternal peace.
July 8, 2017
Jeannie Quaglia and daughter, Angela
There are no words to appropriately honor both Patti and Jack. My daughter and I were blessed to know them both. Their exceptional example of Christian values resonates in their family and this community. I was honored to embroider the name of each new family addition through the years (we ran out of tapestry space!)....It always hung in the Rodeo Road hallway. God Bless You All.
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