Patricia White "Pat" Stanford

Patricia White "Pat" Stanford, 85, of Anderson, passed away Monday, February 28, 2022, at Rainey Hospice House, just a year and a half after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Born February 21, 1937, in San Diego, CA, she was the second child of the late Kenneth Chauncey White and Doris Murray. She attended schools in Hampden, Maine before moving to Nashua, NH. Pat worked as a nurse's aide and bookkeeper before putting herself through the Associate Degree Program in Nursing at New Hampshire Technical Institute, NHTI. After graduating with her RN degree in 1975, she worked at Nashua Memorial Hospital.
In 1980, she married Robert V. Stanford. She and Bob lived in Meridian, MS, and Marietta, GA before settling in Anderson, SC in 1988.
Over the course of her long nursing career, she worked as a staff RN, visiting nurse, and received additional training in enterostomal therapy and oncology, and retired as an oncology nurse in 2007. She was a dedicated nurse and a strong advocate for her patients.
Pat had a special place in her heart for cats and opened her home to many of them over the years. She had one very special dog, Fritz, a dachshund, who traveled with her wherever she went, even to northern Maine on a very memorable snowmobile trip.
Pat enjoyed shopping, gardening, antiquing, and collecting Hallmark ornaments. She was a supporter of the Arts, and particularly enjoyed the Anderson Arts Center and the Mill Town Players in Pelzer. She enjoyed playing cards (especially cribbage), bowling, and competing in trivia.
Pat loved to entertain and was a wonderful cook. She was very proud of the home that she and Bob created. She loved the holidays and decorated several trees throughout her house year-round. The beautifully decorated trees were just the beginning of the theme for a party. Costumes may have been requested and the fun would begin and always include a dazzling table set for royalty. Everyone felt special and that was her reward, an evening of fun in her home! But, don't offer to wash the dishes as that was her job and allowed her time to review the whole event again.
Pat started doing Counted Cross Stitch in 1982 and we found out she had a special talent. There are now many of these framed art works hanging on the walls in the homes of family and friends near and far. Framed Santas were given out at Christmas time instead of cards. All of them are special and nothing less than "museum quality", given with love. They were her "life's" work for our enjoyment and we will treasure them. The sizes and subjects vary, but you can be sure the gift was tailor made for you.
There is not enough room to list all of her talents, as she was our "one of a kind". Fantastic home decorator, always perfectly dressed and a gracious, generous host. We will miss her tremendously.
As her illness progressed, Pat was extremely grateful for her many dear friends in Anderson, and for her family. She wanted to remind us to "keep death in mind as you live". She was thankful that she had time to prepare and felt that she had lived a "pretty remarkable" life to make it to 85 years.
Pat was preceded in death by her sisters: Kay Carlisle and Linda Newcomb. She is survived by her devoted husband, Bob Stanford, sisters: Judith Elson and her husband, Philip (VA) and Susan Ash and her husband, George (ME); brothers: Peter J. White and his wife, Donna (ME) and Michael M. White and his wife, Geraldine (TN); lifelong friend Frances Morgan Bowen and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held August 7, 2022 in Swanville, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Rd. Anderson, SC 29621; Anderson County PAWS, 1320 Highway 29 S, Anderson, SC 29626; ASPCA or to the charity of one's choice.