Pan Kathrryn Rockwell

Pan Kathrryn Rockwell, 81 of Cooperstown, NY died at her home, Sunday March 17, 2013. She is survived by her sister, Bonnie Woodrow of Purcell OK, sister-in-law Angelyn Cunningham, and two children, Charle-Pan Alison Rockwell Dawson of Cooperstown NY who is married to Dana Dawson and Kurmit Charles Rockwell of Alexandria VA who is married to Julie Naughton. Pan is also survived by six granddaughters, Pumpkin Adelaide Dawson, PanJeani Sun Rockwell, Aurora Dory Dawson and partner Wesley Bernegger, and Clare Rose, Maeve Rose and Tessa Rose Naughton-Rockwell of Alexandria VA. She is preceded in death by her parents Bessie Lee (Allison) Cunningham and Joseph Bernard Cunningham, two brothers Babe Cunningham and Alfred "Joe" Cunningham and a sister Elizabeth Norvell.

Pan's birth name was Pansy Maxine Cunningham, and she was born on January 22, 1932 and was raised in Purcell, OK. She was valedictorian of her high school graduating class and then attended nursing college at the U of Oklahoma. After a six week courtship, she married Charles "Chuck" Rockwell of Long Island, and they spent the first year of their marriage prospecting for uranium in the Southwest. She moved to Ithaca NY to support her husband for his Ph.D in Geology where she also gave birth to her daughter. Her son was born after they moved to a suburb of Manhattan and later she moved to Long Island. She worked as a nurse through the early 1980's and moved to Cooperstown NY to retire. Chuck continued to teach on Long Island and would spend many summers and holidays with Pan. He preceded her in death in 2010. She remained in Cooperstown until her death.

Pan was an avid astrologer, tennis player and fan, lover of roses and african violets, and she closely followed current events and politics. Wherever she lived, she was an aficionado of local architecture. She dedicated much of her time to raising her children healthfully, playing sports with them and educating them in the creative arts: sewing, art, cooking, and dancing. She was a great proponent of higher education and always encouraged her children and grandchildren to pursue an education. A lifelong nutritionist, she believed many health issues could be addressed through nutritional support, and she continually strove to help others in this regard. Although she struggled with mobility issues for 30 years, she was committed to living independently which she did until her death.

Donations in Pan's honor can be made to her favorite charities,

America Indian College Fund

https://collegefund.org/

Covenant House

http://www.covenanthouse.org/

Paralyzed Veterans of America

http://www.PVA.org/