She was born Pattie Jane Blount on August 26, 1951 to a middle class family in Tampa, Florida. With white blond hair and big blue eyes, she looked like a baby cherub...so cute and chubby!
As she grew, she became a beautiful young woman...and she dropped the 'E' at the end of her name. From then on, she was known as Patti.
She met and fell in love with Michael Bernaldo at a high school football game in 1966 and married him 2 weeks after graduation in June of 1969.Thursday, December 9, 2010
The Greatest Woman I Ever Knew...
They had a baby girl in April of 1970. They named her Monica. She was the apple of their eye and started a happy life together.
3 years later, they were ready to grow their family again and along game a 2nd daughter, Jessica, in March of 1974. They moved to a larger home in 1978 and the happy times continued.
Until the came to an end in 1980. Patti and Michael split up and divorced in 1981. Patti found a job and became a single mom. She raised her girls and found the strength to begin a whole new life.
She started going out socially and dating...something she never thought she'd ever have to do. But she made an incredible life for herself and her girls. She changed jobs a few times...always moving up to something bigger and better.
In 1990, she got a job with Ford Motor Credit and along with that came a great salary and benefits. Her girls were all grown up and were becoming strong women...just like she had taught them to be. Patti never wanted her girls to be in the position she was put into when her marriage fell apart.
Monica was now in college and Jessica a sophomore...the years were flying by. Patti had a few serious boyfriends during the years but nothing serious enough to make her want to take the leap into marriage again.
Until she met Dick Saa in the late 80's. The relationship got off to a rocky start...Patti was dating his cousin and met Dick at a party where they were both in line for the bathroom. He was in front of her and she tried her best to get him to let her go first. He refused she hated him from that moment on.
She would run into him socially for the next couple of years, always mentioning him to her 2 daughters...telling them what a jerk he was.
Until things changed. The loathing turned into respect the more Patti and Dick got to know one another. Dick was divorced, too with 2 young children...Paul and Lindsey. Their mother had remarried and moved to Georgia, taking the kids with her. Dick had been devastated when they left and he took frequent trips North to make sure he still had a presence in his son and daughter's lives.
Patti was impressed. Any man who loved his kids the way Dick did was a good man in her eyes. The respect turned into love and Patti and Dick were married in March of 1991. They shared a deep love and respect for one another...and their marriage was well balanced. They complimented each other well and were so happy together.
Together with Michael and his wife Rhonda, they saw Monica and Jessica both marry...in 1998 and 2000, respectively. And they welcomed their first grandchild, CJ (Monica's son) in June of 2000. Patti was happy...married and in love, both of her daughters married and happy, and she had a new grand-baby to spoil.
Then came cancer. Patti was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in April of 2002.
She would need all her strength for this battle. Still a Ford employee, she took advantage of all those great benefits and took a leave from work so she could focus on her treatment.
She started chemo right away. Jessica would fly from her new home in Georgia as much as she could so she could sit with Patti while she was getting her chemo treatments. And Patti did great...she responded well and after 8 rounds of chemo, she was in remission by Christmas 2002. The family celebrated the good news and Patti looked forward to getting her life back. She went back to work and everything was back to normal.
She had to leave work again and prepare for more chemo treatments...this time more aggressive. Patti was incredibly disappointed but determined to press on. She didn't want cancer to get the best of her. So she tried to fight it again.
But she didn't have the strength this time around. The treatments were harder and her body just wasn't responding like it did before. Patti had fought all her life...she had to be strong for herself, strong for her daughters, and strong for cancer...which she had already beat once. She didn't have any left for a second round.
In the Fall of 2003, Patti was declining in health. She arraigned a big Thanksgiving celebration and made sure all four of her kids were present. Jessica, Paul and Lindsey came from out of town and Monica and her family was there, too. It would be the last holiday Patti would spend with her family. Her body was so weak but her spirit was strong...she made the best of the holiday.
Jessica flew home after Thanksgiving but flew back for Patti's next doctor's appointment the following Monday. She had a feeling the news would not be good.
And it wasn't. Patti was too weak to continue chemo treatments. There was nothing else that could be done but make her comfortable. It was finally time to face the inevitable...Patti's time was limited. Jessica was determined to stay by her mother's side and took a leave from work. Her mother had been the strongest person she knew...and it was time to return the favor.
Patti was admitted to the hospital for fluids over the next few days and the local hospice had set up a mini hospital room at home for her. Dick brought Patti home for the last time that weekend and the word quickly spread. Their home was filled with family and friends over the next few days...Dick, Monica and Jessica never left her side.
On December 9, 2003 at approximately 7:45am, Patti Jane Blount Bernaldo Saa took her last breath.
Her husband, daughters and sons, grandson, family and friends all mourned the passing of an incredible woman. She lived such a full life...one filled with strength, grace, laughter and love.
Patti was incredibly special. There was never anyone like her. She touched the lives of so many and those that knew her will never forget her.
If you haven't figured it out by now, Patti was my mom.
And not a day goes by where I don't thank my lucky stars she was.
It's been 7 years now without her and I can't believe I have survived this long without her influence in my life. She was my everything...my mom, my best friend, my confidant, my secret keeper, my cheerleader. I depended on her for everything.
But I guess I did inherit a smidge of that famous strength since I have made it this long without her.
As much as I loved her, I am happy she has moved on from this world. She suffered so much in the end and I am thankful she has left that cancer filled body behind. I just wish she had lived long enough to see her kids so happy.
Monica had another baby in August of 2005...and my son was born 12 days later.
Having both her girls pregnant at the same time would have brought her so much joy.
Paul graduated from college and married his college sweetheart. Mom got to know his bride before she got sick and loved her. I think she knew they were meant for each other.
Lindsey graduated from college, too and bought her first home last year. She's studying for her PHD now. Mom would be so proud of her.
Dick has a girlfriend that makes him so happy. Sandy is perfect for him. He is living again and is a better man because of Mom's influence in his life.
We are all okay...living life and being happy.
And that's the best way to honor her memory.
Patti Jane Blount Bernaldo Saa
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2 comments:
Tears are just flowing. Jessica, she was wonderful. She was a great big sister, too. I truly miss her and get emotional sometimes when I speak of her. Your blog is perfect and you didn't leave anything out. I miss her a lot. Can't just pick up the phone and ask for advice. She used to give me advice, also. My girls depended on her and her advice, too. I love you girls and it was great seeing you and all the cousins getting together on Sunday. Patti, Granny and PaPa were there in spirit.
Now I'm crying at work! Wonderful tribute. ..
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