Patricia Marie Delaney, age 81, of New Market, MD, died peacefully Saturday November 30, 2013, at Kline Hospice Home. She had suffered a sudden brain aneurysm on Tuesday, November 12, after a lovely day of Mah Jong with her friends followed by helping her daughter settle into her new home. She planned to go to the Weinberg Theatre that evening. Patricia was a very active, healthy, and fun person who had no intention of slowing down. Pat was born in Jerome, AZ, on April 27, 1932, to Jack and Julia McSweeney. She was the eldest of three sisters: Kathleen, Michaele/Mickie, and Mary. The family moved to Oakland, CA, while Pat was in her school years. She attended St. Elizabeth's Catholic School, and it was here that she met her lifelong love, Thomas Jeremiah Delaney (Jerry). They married September 23, 1952. Jerry was a Navyman, so the family made many moves over their 23 years in the military. Ever the Navy wife, Pat never complained, but she was loathe to accumulate "stuff," preferring instead to run a clean household free of clutter. Pat gave birth to 5 children, and she delighted in being Mom. She loved to sew, and made many darling outfits for her little ones. She taught them to read, count, sew, garden, love nature and art, cook, clean, and get ready for the next move. She ran a tight ship. After retirement, Pat and Jerry, relocated to New Market, MD, to be closer to their young grandchildren. Pat took a job at Frederick County's Rock Creek School. She also began a long career of volunteering, donating her time and energy to Hospice of Frederick County, the Weinberg Center, the Delaplaine Arts Center, Schifferstadt House, FMH Cancer Treatment Center, and teaching ESL. She also dedicated many hours to volunteering in daughter Susan's primary grade classrooms. At the same time, Pat worked towards completing a college degree. The only reason she did not graduate was her insistence that she could not pass a required math class. This baffled her family, who knew she could do anything she set her mind to. Pat was very active in community activities, including FCC's Institute for Learning in Retirement (at which she regularly took classes), Frederick Arts Council (she was treasurer), and book clubs (most recently a Lake Linganore Book Group). Pat and Jerry loved to travel. Once their children left home, they made a habit of going on long trips, either in the US or abroad, and learning all they could about the people, history, culture, and food. These trips revitalized their relationship, and they were happily married nearly 48 years. After Jerry died in 1999, Pat never desired to remarry, saying she didn't think she could find anyone as good looking as Jerry. Patricia was very proud of her children: Tim (Cathy), Susan, Terry (Gianna), Sharon, and Tom (Kara). She also dearly loved her 11 grandchildren: John (Danielle), Elisa, Bill (Liz), Nathan, Carolyn, Dustin, Jeff, Ryan, Noah, Nia, and Charlie; and her 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her two son-in-laws Charlie and Edward. Mom/ Gramma. you will be sorely missed. There will be an Open House gathering at Pat's house on Tuesday, December 3rd, from 3-7pm. Please come and share a story or two. As parking is limited, please carpool if you can. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Frederick County Hospice, PO Box 1799, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1799.
