Patricia M. Sennett

Patricia M. Sennett

Patricia M. Sennett passed away peacefully on Nov. 15, 2025, at the age of 91.

Born in Pittsburgh and the only daughter of four children, she made the most of her talents as an artist to be the first of her family to attend college. Through the intervention of caring teachers, her parents were encouraged to find a way for her to attend the nearby state teachers' college where she would obtain both her degree and her husband of 62 years, Arthur.

Though separated almost immediately by Arthur being drafted into the Army and serving overseas, they began a family and Pat quickly took steps to establish herself as a teacher while rearing her first child with the help of her in-laws until her husband returned from service. Pat was a working mother from the outset, and she continued in both roles through her final day with us. A dedicated and beloved art teacher for over 30 years in the same school, she was often sought out by former students decades later so they could say hello, share a story or again seek guidance from their trusted advisor who, as one student said upon seeing her again in a local restaurant nearly 30 years after being in her class, "didn't just teach us about art, she taught us how to navigate life."

Pat was a self-professed "talker" who easily engaged others in conversation on any topic as she was always curious and as eager to learn as she was to teach. Continually learning and growing, she returned to school early in her career to earn her MFA and further develop her passion for working in the arts. Her curiosity and willingness to engage with others helped fuel her prolific artistic endeavors in a variety of media, including collaborative work in ceramics with Arthur, though her work was primarily paintings and drawings.

Also an entrepreneur, Pat engaged in a variety of ways to share her work, including a home-based space to exhibit, serving as a founding member of an artist cooperative to create a gallery space for marketing her paintings and those of fellow artist in the community and even experimenting with reproducing work on large scale for distribution through gift catalog sales - an adventure that enlisted Art and her three children to keep pace with meeting the demand.

While still working as a high school art teacher Pat exhibited work primarily throughout the Northeast and she was recognized with numerous awards in juried shows with many of her pieces being acquired and included in both public and private collections. In addition to her teaching and creating her own art, Pat was also actively engaged in her community, using her talents and ability to engage with others by serving on town committees or as a juror for art exhibitions in the area. Though she "retired" to Jekyll Island, her time in the South found her continuing her lifelong habit: sharing her talents, teaching others, creating her art and of course, tending her gardens and yard ­- places she found both time to contemplate the activities in the world around her and inspiration in the beauty she surrounded herself with.

Pat is survived by her three children, Michael and his wife Judith, Susan and her husband Richard, and Peter and his wife Paula. She loved and is loved by her seven grandchildren and her three great-grandchildren who will certainly miss her exuberant smile and infectious laugh.

In keeping with Pat's wishes, no service will be held.

For those wanting to recognize Pat's life, her art and her contributions to countless students and her community, please consider contributing to the Jekyll Island Arts Association (https://jekyllartists.com).

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, November 29, 2025