Patti Fleming

Fleming Patti Fleming (DiGioia). Born in Columbus Ohio, April 20, 1927 to parents Luigi and Rosaria DiGioia (both deceased). Patti was the 12th child of 14 children in the DiGioia family. There were five brothers and eight sisters; Patti was born between 2 sets of twins and the five of them were the mischievous ones. Patti was the last surviving sibling. Patti attended Scioto Trail Grade School (grades 1 and 2); Holy Family Grade School (grades 2nd to 6) and then returned to Scioto Trail Grade school for the 7th and 8th grades. She graduated from South High School and then on to Capital Beauty School where she graduated in 1947. She opened her first Beauty Salon in Columbus, Ohio in 1947. She married Leo C. Fleming on November 25, 1950 in the biggest snow storm in decades. Many guests were stuck in snow drifts and had to be rescued. She and Lee sold everything and joined another couple and drove from Columbus Ohio to Anchorage, Alaska in the summer of 1953. This was a true adventure and they traveled the last 1200 miles on a gravel road called the AlCan Highway. They were true pioneers as Alaska was still a rugged territory. Patti opened a new salon in Alaska where she worked until Daughter Catherine was born in 1954. They moved back to Ohio where daughter Linda was born in 1956. They decided to moved back to Alaska in 1957 and drove across country with the children stopping to see friends in Spokane, Washington who convinced them to stay there to settle down. Patti worked in other salons during this time. In 1961, the family moved to Tigard Oregon where Patti continued to reside until her passing. Survivors include daughter, Catherine (Fleming) Yamauchi, husband, Dr. Dale Yamauchi and grandson, Zachary Yamauchi; daughter, Linda (Fleming, Snyder) Planque; granddaughter, Angelina Planque; grandson, Josiah Planque; great-grandson, Jade Planque; and great-great grand-daughter, Amelia Rose Planque. Patti was a parishioner in St. Anthony's Parish since 1961. Every Priest and nun at St. Anthony's were frequent visitors at her home for a spaghetti dinner. Patti was involved with the St. Anthony School Board; she supervised the Italian dinner to raise funds for the St. Anthony Boy's Choir trip to Europe. Patti was a chaperone on the Boy's Choir trip to Europe where close friendships were forged that lasted her lifetime. Patti was a member of the Catholic Daughter and was also active in the Eucharistic Ministry since 1980. Patti sang in the St. Anthony's Church Choir from 1961 to 2004. Patti also taught Religious Education for 1 year and enjoyed taking communion to the sick. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Patti's honor to Society of St. Vincent de Paul Tigard via. St. Anthony Church. Arrangements under the direction of YOUNG'S FUNERAL HOME, Tigard, OR.