Patricia Stanley

Patricia Geniusz Stanley Of Harvey, Illinois, and San Francisco, Piercy and Rio Dell, California, passed away at her home on Sunday, January 8th, 2012, in the loving care of her daughter Kelli Stanley and her daughter's partner Tana Hall. She is survived by her brother Gerald and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Geniusz, her sister-in-law Virginia Smith of Plymouth, Indiana, her sister-in-law Bobbie Jean Self, of Dahlonega, GA, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the United States, England and Poland. Patricia's beloved husband Van Burgess Stanley passed away from lung cancer on December 5th, 2011. Patricia was born November 30th 1939 in Harvey, Illinois. She graduated from Thornton Township High School and later worked at the flagship Sears store on State Street in downtown Chicago, meeting her husband-to-be, Van Burgess Stanley, at the age of 18. Their only child, Kelli Elaine Stanley, was born June 11th, 1964. Tricia opened and operated The Funny Papers, a successful comic book and popular culture store in San Francisco, with her daughter Kelli and Kelli's partner Tana. As an all-woman owned business, The Funny Papers was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, the San Francisco Business Times and the column of legendary newsman Herb Caen. In 1997, Patricia and Van relocated to Rio Dell and retired. Tricia enjoyed a highly successful and fulfilling life as a volunteer. She served for four years on the Board of Directors of the Redwood Memorial Hospital Foundation in Fortuna, and was a stellar leader both locally and state-wide, serving with CAHHS (California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems) for eight years, four as an officer and four as President of the Northern Redwood Empire Area Council. Tricia also served on the Board of Directors of the Ferndale Repertory Theater, the former Top of the World charity and helped raise funds for the Humboldt County Library Foundation. A life-long singer, Tricia sang with the San Francisco State University Chorus, a Russian Opera company, a barbershop quartet, and even enjoyed a memorable stint singing with the Dells in Chicago. She lent her lovely soprano voice to the Ferndale Community Choir and the Belles and Beaux singing group. One of her most memorable performances was as Blueberry the Clown, a role she donned to the delight of children of all ages at various charity events. In between all of her volunteer work, Tricia also found time to knit, embroider, and tat, and was a blue-ribbon holder in many categories of needlework at the Humboldt County Fair. Her hands and her heart were never idle. Patricia was proud of her Polish heritage and loved to explore genealogy. She was also very proud of her daughter Kelli, an award-winning mystery novelist, and was recognized by Kelli's publisher as an amazing publicist. Tricia often traveled with her daughter, including a Christmas Eve at the Vatican, a New Year's Eve in Salzburg, Austria, and the Proms in Melbourne, Australia. In 2011, she was able to attend award ceremonies in Los Angeles and St. Louis with her daughter. Tricia was a special person, a fact recognized by all who were fortunate enough to know her. Beloved by her community, her friends and her family, she was gentle, kind, smart, generous, strong and funny, and always thought first of others, never herself. Her husband liked to say that she was the type of person who made flowers grow. She leaves behind many beautiful blossoms from Chicago to San Francisco to Humboldt County. A joint memorial and celebration of life to be held in the Spring is being planned for Van and Patricia. Those wishing to attend should please stay in touch with Kelli Stanley at kelli@kellistanley.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.