Patricia B. Mottolese

Mottolese, Patricia B.
LOUDONVILLE - Patricia B. Mottolese, 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, April 23, 2023.
Born in Albany, she was the daughter of Irish and Welsh immigrant parents, Emily Gertrude "Gert" (Davis-Nolan) and Patrick Breen. Pat grew up in Albany, graduated from Albany High School and met her future husband, Tom Mottolese on a blind date. They dated and danced their way into each other's hearts at the canteens held frequently at the time in Albany.
They were married on the Fourth of July 1952 and moved to Washington, D.C. where Pat worked for the Department of Commerce as a stenographer. After Tom completed dental school, they returned to Albany where they "started" their family… and they just kept going!
What can we say about our mom's superpowers? It is difficult for any of us to imagine how this petite woman of 4'11" managed to keep this band of merry elves in line with her own brand of grit and grace. She was the original Energizer Bunny with more energy and faith to carry her through the challenges of motherhood, infants, toddlers and teens (Everything, Everywhere All at Once?!?) in the 1950s, '60s, and yes, even the '70s and '80s. She ran a tight ship and, though soft-spoken, could evoke the fear of God in any one of us with the threat of "just wait until your father gets home!"
She used her short-hand skills to encode vaccination appointments on the fridge calendar. She always hid our Christmas presents in the same place (her closet) every year- and we pretended not to know. She never missed the St. Patrick's Day Parade - no matter how cold, wet or snowy. She enjoyed a good Bloody Mary or Mimosa on special occasions - or maybe a Stinger after a particularly grueling nine holes.
Mom volunteered for decades of PTA, room mother, and church bingo, attended countless ball games, and swim lessons, and mercifully endured some excruciating piano recitals. She allowed Patrick's high school rock band to practice in the basement at South Manning. It was before liner notes and she would listen to Van Morrison's Moon Dance repeatedly to shorthand the proper lyrics for said band - the woman was a saint!
Mom was an avid reader and instilled this love in each of us. She also loved sewing and taught us all - but only one of us ever had the patience for it. She loved walking, gardening and bowling. She was famed for her sidestroke while always making a fashion statement with her stylish swim caps.
We were lucky enough to enjoy a house always full of family and friends with a steady stream of extended family parties to celebrate the holidays, birthdays, baptisms, first communions, confirmations and anniversaries. She never missed a birthday or milestone event and attended countless extra-curriculars for all of us making sure she treated all of us equally (no small task with this brood). She made Christmas magical with a tinsel-covered tree surrounded by a giant mound of carefully selected, wrapped gifts for all. She planned, packed and seamlessly managed family vacations in Florida, Cape Cod, Wildwood, N.J., etc. for our "party of nine" like it was no big deal. We always had an extra body in tow - be it a college roommate, extended family or even a dental hygienist.
Wherever we were, if there was music, it was not uncommon for Pat and Tom to take to the dance floor to shame the rest of the dancers off the floor with their spirited jitterbugging, twirling and swing moves whether it was the Glen Miller Band, Frank Sinatra or Patsy Cline.
In her "retirement" years, Pat enjoyed playing golf with the "Ladies 9 holers" at Wolfert's Roost Country Club, traveling with Tom and friends to Ireland, Europe and wherever else they could combine golf, friendship and fun. She especially enjoyed wintering with their snowbird friends in Tarpon Springs and Bonita Springs, Fla. We're quite certain that by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Mom was raising a glass with Dad, Brin, and a host of friends and family. To Mom, we gratefully and tearfully toast "Slainte, Yaki-da and Salud!" to a life well lived.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Thomas N. Mottolese; and by her brother, Brinley Breen. She is survived by her seven children: Dr. Monica P. Mottolese (James Slavin), Jeanne M. Heran (Chuck Heran, deceased), Thomas N. Mottolese Jr. (Ellen McDaniel), Dr. Patrick J. Mottolese (Dr. Phyllis Norton), K. Mark Mottolese, Maura C. Mottolese (Brian Morrissey), and Emily M. Mottolese (Carl Shenton). She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Dr. Laura Oswald (Eric); Captain Daniel Slavin (Nelia); Kyle Heran (Karissa); Meghan Wilock (Nick); Kelly Bartosik (James) and Emily Rose Mottolese; Téa R. Mottolese; Shane and Conor Morrissey; Elliot and Rhys Shenton. She also is survived by nine great-grandchildren: Sage and Isla Oswald; Amelia and Juliette Heran; Theo, Roman and Giorgia Wilock; Miles and Talia Bartosik. In addition, she is survived by her Irish and Welsh cousins, and several nieces and nephews, both here in Albany and abroad in Wales and Ireland.
The family would like to extend their sincere thanks for the passionate care provided by all the aides at Kingsway Skilled Nursing.
Patricia's funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 28, in St. Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Road, Loudonville. A private viewing and prayer service for the family will be held at the McVeigh Funeral Home, Albany at 9:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Pat's name to St. Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Road, Loudonville, NY, 12211 or Mater Christi Food Pantry, c/o MC Parish Office, 40 Hopewell St., Albany, NY, 12208.
To leave a message for the family please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com.