Patricia J. Mulhern

Patricia J. MULHERN 3/4/47 ~ 11/3/09 Patricia (Patty) J Mulhern passed away on November 3, 2009 after a brief illness. Patty was born March 4, 1947 to John and Mary Zambisky and raised in Dearborn MI. She received her BS in Nursing from Marquette University in 1969 and subsequently worked in a variety of nursing roles: inpatient, public health, and education. Patty earned a MS in Community Health Nursing from the University of WA in 1980. Upon completing the Transition Services graduate program, she began a 27 year career with Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest (VNSNW). Her first assignment was to develop a hospice program, a natural extension of her graduate work. Patty ended her career at VNSNW as VP, Patient Services. After retiring from VNSNW, Patty began her own consulting firm, most recently working as Director of Professional Affairs for the Home Care Association of WA (HCAW). With her signature energy and enthusiasm, she developed educational programs, provided technical and legislative expertise, and promoted emergency preparedness forin-home service providers. As part of her ongoing commitment to home health and hospice, Patty made numerous presentations at practitioner and academic conferences, published professional articles, and held a clinical faculty position at the University of WA School of Nursing. She was an active member of the Oncology Nursing Society at the national and local levels. Patty was a member of the National Association of Home Care and HCAW, serving as President 1994-1995. She was also on the Advisory Board for both the UW and Seattle Pacific University Schools of Nursing. Patty served the Rosehedge Foundation on their Board of Directors from 1998 through 2003 and as Board President in 2003. Most recently, she was deeply involved with Harmony Hill Retreat Center, both as house mother for cancer retreats and faculty for professional workshops. She dearly loved travelling and the outdoors, especially hiking, backpacking, sailing, kayaking, camping and gardening. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Michael G. Mulhern, her sisters Kay Selzer (Paul) of Palm Springs, CA and M. Jeanne Dallavo of Springboro OH, as well as several aunts and an uncle, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A celebration of her life will be held on December 6, 2009 at the Shilshole Bay Beach Club, 6413 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Harmony Hill Retreat Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, or the University of WA School of Nursing. Honey, your legacy of caring and compassion will endure. You are loved by all. We miss you terribly.