Obituary of Patricia K. Witchey

Patricia K. Witchey, (Pat)(Sissy) passed away peacefully on February 6, 2024, after a battle with cancer.

Pat was born on March 13, 1949, to Katherine Rose and Marcus Joseph Mullarkey. She is survived by two sons, David T. Witchey and Scott P. Witchey; and five grandchildren: Christopher, Kaitlyn, Emilee, Keira, and Ellie. She has one sister, Maureen Mullarkey Pulice, a brother-in-law, Richard, and two nieces, Elizabeth and Bridget Pulice. Pat was predeceased by her former husband, Thomas J. Witchey.

Pat was a lifelong resident of the Poughkeepsie and East Fishkill area. She attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and Our Lady of Lourdes High School class of 1967. A graduate of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1969, Pat dedicated her life to nursing as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and then as a Nurse Manager of the Critical Care Units while at St Francis Hospital. Pat provided nursing services within the medical department of the Dutchess County Jail. She continued her nursing through Case Management services at St. Francis Hospital (MHR), where she dedicated her work to the Emergency Department. Until her passing, Pat served as an Eldercare consultant to many families in the Northeast.

While working as an ICU nurse at St. Francis, Pat met an Emergency Room tech, Richard, and set up a blind date with Richard for her sister, Maureen. We are all so thankful that their friendship of 55 years and Pat’s matchmaking resulted in a wonderful love story and an additional branch on the family tree.

The outpouring of messages from patients, families, and colleagues about Pat’s compassion, dedication, and attention to detail as a nurse truly demonstrated that it was her calling in life.

With the birth of her two sons, David and Scott, Pat became as dedicated a mother as she was a nurse. She created a household of love, warmth, and caring chaos, full of laughter and fun. Pat’s door was always open to anyone in need, human or animal, and her sage advice was always a phone call away.

When she wasn’t spending time with the lights of her life, her five grandchildren,  Pat loved to spend time in her garden, surrounded by her beautiful flowers. Pat’s generosity and willingness to give of herself was truly a model for all.

We thank the Baptist Home and the Oncology team at Vassar Brothers Medical Center for their good humor, care, and compassion for Pat and her family.

We invite family, friends, and colleagues to celebrate Pat’s life with us at the calling hours 4 pm to 8 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 (845-452-0460), and at the funeral Mass on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Columba Church, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York.