Patricia J. Retallick passed away on December 27, 2015, at the home of her eldest son, Bill, whose family had been giving her care for the past two and a half years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Joseph, in April 1988 and by her parents, Mike and Verna Petrovich, her brother, Michael, and sister, Dorothy.
Born in Ronald, Washington in 1930, Patricia grew up in Tacoma. She attended the Catholic schools Holy Rosary and St. Leo’s, the all girls’ high school. While at St. Leo’s, she earned a full scholarship to St. Joseph’s in conjunction with Seattle University. She chose to attend St. Joseph’s, earning her certification as a Registered Nurse in 1951.
Married to her second grade sweetheart in 1952, she had four sons. In 1959, the family moved “out to the sticks” to a little town called Alderwood Manor, later known as Lynnwood. Together they bought a house that would be the family home for the next 53 years.
After a time at Everett General, she took a position at the new hospital in Edmonds, Stevens Memorial. Starting as an emergency room nurse, her commitment and excellence saw her rise to the top position an RN could hold: Director of Nursing. In the mid-1980s, she was hired by Northwest Hospital to become the Director of Patient Care and Evaluation. Seeking another new challenge in her sixties, she went to work in risk management, travelling the Western states until retirement.
She was part of the Great Generation. When asked about her career, she retorted “Career!! I had a job!!” We have never met, nor can imagine meeting anyone, who without question or hesitation did the right thing as consistently as she. Her friends and family knew they were loved. She had a great laugh. She especially enjoyed her well-fed family around her table in the house we all called home.
As dementia began to show itself late in her life, she prayed that she would not embarrass herself. She never did, she maintained in quiet dignity. She was comforted by her Faith in God as she passed into the mystery. She left nothing undone. She was much loved. She will be missed. She will never be forgotten.
Patricia Retallick is survived by her brothers, John and David Petrovich, their wives, Carol and Diane, her sons Bill, Patrick, Tom and Mark, her daughters-in-law Desiree, Cathy, Julie and Lynn, her grandchildren Brett, Alyssa, Michael, Natalie, Vanessa, Kristen, Lindsey, Jacob and Jordan, and her great-grandchildren, Gracie and Calvin.
A celebration of her life will be Friday, February 26, 10:00 am at Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th Street, Shoreline, Washington, 98155.