Patricia Mary O'Handley

1936 - 2026

DALTON - Patricia Mary O'Handley, 89, died Jan. 16 at Sugar Hill Assisted Living, surrounded by family.

Born in Pittsfield on May 13, 1936, Patricia was the daughter of Carlton and Grace Martin Best. She was a 1954 graduate of the former Dalton High School, and a 1957 graduate of the former St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in New York City.

She met her husband, Daniel Patrick O'Handley Sr., on a blind date on St. Patrick's Day in New York City and the two were married on June 21, 1958, in St. Agnes Church in Dalton. After their marriage, Pat and Dan lived in Astoria, N.Y., for a year where Pat worked briefly at Astoria General and at St. Francis Hospital, before the couple relocated to Dalton.

A registered nurse, Pat continued her nursing career for over 30 years while raising a family. She was experienced in a variety of fields - general floor nursing, nursing supervisor, critical care (ICU-CCU-ER) at Berkshire Medical Center, was an oncology nurse and worked outside of the hospital setting for the VNA. For a short time, she served as an industrial nurse for Crane & Co., and as a temporary relief nurse for General Electric in Pittsfield.

A down-to-earth, practical woman with a good sense of humor who enjoyed reading The Eagle every day and doing the crossword puzzle, Pat was a true caregiver all of her life - always putting others before herself. She was the best mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece and gramma any family could ever hope to have.

Patricia was predeceased by her husband, Dan, who died in 2011 after 53 years of marriage. Both were communicants of St. Agnes Church.

She leaves her children, sons Daniel O'Handley Jr. (Debra) of Corneilius, N.C., and Brian O'Handley (Patricia) of Dalton; daughter Grace O'Handley of Pittsfield; a brother, Frank Best (Susan) of Wallingford, Conn., grandchildren Patrick O'Handley, Caitlin Doyle (Mike), Cameron McMahon (Taylor) and Colin McMahon (Brandi); great-granddaughter, Maren Doyle as well as her niece Caroline Best Thornton, nephew Carlton Best and grand-niece, Grace Thornton. Another great-granddaughter and a great-grandson are expected this year.

Special thanks goes to the staff at Sugar Hill for their exceptional care of our mom, where she had made Sugar Hill her home since December 2022.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes Church. Burial will follow in Ashuelot Cemetery. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at Dery-Foley Funeral Home, 890 E. Main St, Dalton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Care of the Berkshires or to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of the funeral home.