Patsy Jean "Pat" Dunzik

1932 - 2024

Patsy "Pat" Jean Swartz Dunzik, 91, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away peacefully in her sleep, on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at home. In her final days she was attended 24 hours per day by her daughter, son, son-in-law, and grandchildren. We share a deep gratitude that she was able to remain at home throughout her illness, and was literally never alone.

We also were very happy that she could spend her final days in her apartment, which was truly a work of art: she was an avid collector of dolls of every genre, and time period. Her apartment was a virtual museum, displaying a myriad of dolls and other items which she collected during her lifetime. Pat enjoyed dolls, animals of all kinds, dolls, children, dolls, going for walks, dolls, visiting with family and friends, dolls, travelling (twice to Israel and once to the UK to visit Mary Lou) and dolls!

We hope that she was also comforted by the presence of her cat, Cyndi, who slept just to the left of her pillow.

Through the magic of streaming music, she listened to her favorite singer (Frank Sinatra) both day and night in her final days.

She was a beautiful person, and spread her love widely in this world, to her family, and numerous friends both in Idaho Falls, as well as in Pennsylvania, where she lived the first the first 67 years of her life.

No description of Pat would be complete without noting her deep love for animals, especially dogs and cats, a quality she acquired from her father, and passed on to her children and grandchildren. She felt sad when visiting an animal shelter; it was hard for her to bear the fact that she could not take all the animals home.

Finally, she possessed a childlike sense of wonder, and joy at the world around her. She found something to appreciate and enjoy every day of her life. In a recent phone call she expressed her fascination as she noticed the branches in the trees outside her window swaying gently with each new breeze.

Pat was born March 2, 1932, in Dauphin, PA, to George Walter Scott Swartz and Mabel Irene Lyter Swartz. She grew up and attended Dauphin School (which terminated at grade 11) and graduated from Harrisburg High (where she attended 12th grade.)

On August 23, 1958, she married the love of her life, Charles "Chuck" R. Dunzik, in Dauphin, PA. Pat and Chuck made their home in central PA while Chuck earned a degree at Penn State University. In 1966, they moved to Mechanicsburg, PA, where Chuck began a high school teaching career. Pat stayed at home, caring for son, Scott Dennis (DOB 12/27/1959) and daughter, Mary Lou (DOB 1/21/1965). Tragically, Chuck died suddenly and unexpectedly in April of 1967. After his death, Pat and children moved to Millersburg, PA, where she lived for 31 years.

Although she never achieved her dream of becoming a school teacher, many of her jobs over the years involved caring for children and special needs adults. She instilled the importance and value of education into her children, who took it to heart. Scott became the first MD (with specialization in psychiatry) in the family and Mary Lou the first PhD (in nuclear engineering.)

In 1999, Pat moved to Idaho Falls, ID, to live with Mary Lou, her husband, Hans D. Gougar, and Pat's two grandchildren, Charles Dunzik Gougar (DOB 7/14/1996) and Elizabeth Dunzik Gougar (DOB 9/23/1998). Helping to raise Charlie and Bette as their "Bubba" was her favorite job of all time!

She was a member of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Dauphin and Berrysburg, PA, and Trinity United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls, ID.

Pat is survived by her son, Scott Dennis Dunzik, of Haddonfield, NJ; daughter, Mary Lou Dunzik (Hans) Gougar of Idaho Falls, ID; niece, Jeanie Wiseman Crowl of Elysburg, PA, and 2 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mabel Swartz; husband, Charles R. Dunzik; and siblings Vesta Swartz (Harry) McCauley, Lorma Swartz (Robert) McCaleb, Dean (Gloria) Swartz, Arlene Swartz (Howard) Wiseman, and Dennis (Sally) Swartz.

Burial will be in the Dauphin (PA) Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Humane Society, which was near and dear to Pat's heart.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.