Patsy Gilges

Patsy (Mantz) Gilges PULTNEYVILLE - Patsy (Mantz) Gilges, age 74, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, at home with her family by her side. She was a loving wife and devoted mother and grandma. She is survived by her beloved husband of 51 years, Walter Gilges; three children, Kent (Liz) Gilges, Julie (Stephen) Martin and Keith Gilges; and eight grandchildren, Alexander, Nicholas, Oliver, Hannah and Avery Gilges and Bryan, Chip and Jennifer Martin. She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Elizabeth "Elie" Gilges. Pat's sense of adventure was matched only by her compassion for the underdog and her thoughtfulness toward friends and family. From her early life in Louisiana and Painesville, Ohio, she married a foreigner, moved to Africa, traveled the world and planned a lifetime of adventures. Pat was the only child of John William Mantz and Betty (Burgess) Mantz. She graduated from Harvey High School and received her bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary. At William and Mary, Pat participated in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Psi Chi, an honorary psychology fraternity, and Mortar Board, an honorary leadership organization. She also choreographed for and performed with the Mermettes Synchronized Swim Club. Pat and Walter were married on June 15, 1963, in Painesville with Robert and Frances McDowell standing in for Walter's parents who could not travel from southern Africa for the wedding. The couple then moved to Northern Rhodesia, where their oldest son was born in 1965. Thereafter, they returned to New York City where they had met while both worked at a Wall Street law firm. Their daughter and younger son were born there. In 1970, the family moved to Pittsford where Walter joined Kodak. In Pittsford, Pat was active in her sorority alumnae group and also the Junior League of Rochester. She and her friends brought children's theater to city schools and under served districts. Pat loved the outdoors and planned family adventures accordingly. She took her daughter to Hawaii to work with scientists teaching artificial language to dolphins and she organized an Outback Australia adventure where the whole family helped to study kangaroos. Pat also took her children and grandchildren to visit the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Park. She opened doors that we never dreamed existed. In 1986, Pat and Walter moved to Pultneyville to a home they have since called their little piece of heaven. In Pultneyville, Pat continued her community service through a Twig group at Myers Community Hospital. Pat and Walter moved with Kodak to Hong Kong for 1996 to 1998, before returning to their much loved lake home nicknamed The Hermitage. There they continued to rejoice with the arrival of each grandchild and the gathering of family for summer and holiday visits. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home Inc., 47 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua. Memorial contributions may be made to WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, P.O. Box 30021, Rochester NY 14603; or James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., P.O. Box 704, Rochester, NY 14642. Condolences may be offered at www.johnsonkennedy.com.