Patricia "Patty" Jensen

Patricia (Patty) Smith Jensen, 84, of Willow Street, Pennsylvania will be memorialized at a Committal Service at the Saegertown Cemetery in Saegertown on Sunday, August 9, 2015. 

Following her committal there will be “A Joyful Remembrance” reception at the Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs beginning at 2:15 pm to celebrate and remember her life.  Family and friends are all invited and encouraged to attend the reception.

Her death occurred on December 20, 2014 in the Willow Valley Retirement Community in Willow Street, PA following a four year struggle with lung cancer. 

Patty was the eldest child of Kenneth and Frances Smith of Saegertown where the Smith family operated the Smith Red & White grocery store for many years. She is survived by siblings Robert Smith of Saegertown; Thomas Smith of Clearwater Beach, FL; Peter Smith of Warren, PA; Marilyn Kay Fugagli of Jamestown, NY and Judith Melville of Auburn, AL.

Saegertown Schools provided both her elementary and secondary education.  A member of the Saegertown High School Class of 1948 she was actively involved in many class activities.  As a parting senior her classmates named her their “Most Popular” and also “Best Looking” classmate. Pat graduated in 1952 from Edinboro State Teachers College where she majored in Elementary Education.  Life-long friendships with thirteen of her college friends led to the circulation of a “Round Robin” letter which commenced in about 1955 and continues to this day.  Choral singing was a major extracurricular activity while in college.  A highlight was her participation in the State Chorus during her senior year and having the privilege of performing a 30-minute piece with the Chorus titled “The Song of America” under the personal direction of Fred Waring, the well known and respected leader of “The Pennsylvanians” a nationally known singing group which was very popular during that 1940’s and 1950’s.  Waring was called by many  "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing."  

She and her childhood sweetheart, Richard (Dick) Jensen, married on May 25, 1953 and remained happily so until her death.  Following two years of teaching, and with the birth of her son, Mark, she became a full time mother.  Patty is also the mother of son David and the grandmother of Kathryn, Rebecca, Sonja, and Peter and the mother-in-law of Karla Rau and Elizabeth Nardelli.

Her immediate family, as well as her extended one, have been the source of much delight and pleasure for Patty throughout her life.  Gatherings of the family were always especially enjoyed. Owning a residence within the Chautauqua Institution for 25 years enabled Patty to host many memorable gatherings of the “clan”.  In addition, Chautauqua environs and programming along with the many very close friendships she enjoyed there with fellow Chautauquans were especially cherished joys.

Following her marriage in 1953, several relocations ensued as a result of her husband’s career.  Finally, in 1968, Mendham, NJ became their “permanent” home until 2004 when they relocated to the Willow Valley Retirement Community in Lancaster County, PA.  It was there that her lung cancer was detected and where, for the last four years of her life, she diligently underwent all of her cancer related treatments without complaint and with an open and cheerful demeanor.

Patty met death with exceptional calm, grace and dignity.  She was an inspiration to those who knew her.  Hers was, and is, a life to be celebrated.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Saegertown Heritage Society, PO Box 449, Saegertown, PA 16433. 

Local arrangements are under the direction of Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 330 Broad Street, Saegertown, PA 16433. 

Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com.