Patricia J. Beggs

Patricia Beggs passed away peacefully in her sleep at 2:30 AM on Monday December 12th at the age of 92, cheerful and positive till the end.  Her deep faith ensured that.  Born August 26th, 1924 in Hermosa Beach California, spending her formative years there before her family moved to San Francisco while still in her youth. Eventually Pat attended the University of California Berkley  (long before it’s radical days we used to joke), became a “Rosie the riveter” during WWII and also became a USO girl during the war.  It was while attending  a USO event that she happened to meet Harold Beggs,  a naval enlisted man who’s baby flat top aircraft carrier had been torpedoed in the South Pacific and limped to San Francisco for repair.  They became an “item” as they say and immediately upon the end of the war were married and after a brief honeymoon at Big Bear Lake near Los Angeles moved back east to Sidney NY where Harold’s job at Scintilla was waiting.  Two children ensued, Marilyn born in 1950 and Michael born in 1955.  In 1960 Pat went back to college to finish the degree started at UC Berkley,  attending the State University Teachers College in Oneonta.  Living at that time across the street from Gilson Slater, the Unadilla School Principal, he kept a close eye on Pat’s progress and offered her a teachers job at Unadilla Elementary School before even completing her studies.  She always made a strong impression.  After three years teaching 3rd grade, Pat switched to teaching 1st grade as she always loved teaching reading in particular, becoming a certified reading specialist.  She spent the rest of her career in that position, teaching and tutoring her “kids”.  She walked to work to  school virtually every day all those years, pulling a cart behind her loaded with her books and teaching supplies.  From the very late 50’s  till she moved to Norwich in 2008,  Pat was devoted to the Unadilla United  Methodist Church, spending much of her time there attending services, bible study classes, attending and teaching Sunday school and helping organize and put on  countless Church dinners,  bazarrs, rummage sales and suchlike.  She was church treasurer for a number of years.   Pat was also involved in many of the inter-denominational functions amongst the various churches throughout the area.  Doing whatever she could to help people.  Marilyn was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1992.  Pat and Harold moved Marilyn back into their home, setting her up in a hospital type bed in their living room where Pat could take care of Marilyn around the clock.  After a couple of years, the physical aspects of this became unsustainable so Marilyn moved to Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta where she lived until passing away in 2007.  Pat drove to Oneonta as many as 3 or 4 times a week throughout all those years to spend time with Marilyn and do volunteer work for others at the Nursing Home.  Being a retired teacher, Pat loved to decorate the large bulletin board in Marilyn’s room to reflect an upcoming holiday or other theme. Fox Nursing Home became Pat’s third home away from home along with the Church and her physical home on Martin Brook Street in Unadilla.  Pat was an avid supporter of the Unadilla Fire Department,  even being designated their  “Citizen of the year” several years ago.  Pat’s other love was music.  She listened to Jerry and Dave, “The Breakfast Flakes” on WHWK Binghamton their entire years on air.  She even went on one of their cruises. She went to numerous Country Western concerts at the Arena in Binghamton with her friend Kathy whom she had met at Fox Nursing Home and with her daughter–in-law Mary.  The radio in Pat’s kitchen was always on and tuned into   “The Hawk” or in later years “Big Kat Country”, the Norwich station.  She took Michael to see “Jesus Christ Superstar” performed live at the Saratoga Perfoming Arts Center in the early 70’s, Michael took her there to see Jimmy Buffett live in the early 80’s.  She loved all music. The common theme throughout Pat’s life was helping people. Her faith meant everything to her, she was one of those perhaps rare people who truly saw the good in everyone.  She was as selfless as anyone could be and had no use for material things or television except for the Bob Buchannan weather report segment of the WBNG 6 PM news.  Pat is survived by her son Michael and Daughter-In Law Mary.  Predeceased in 1994 by Harold, her husband of 49 years and her daughter Marilyn in 2007.

 A memorial service is planned for Friday January 20th, 2017 at 1 PM at the Unadilla United Methodist Church.  Please send donations in lieu of flowers to the Unadilla United Methodist Church, 73 Main Street, Unadilla NY  13849 or the Unadilla Fire Department,  77 Clifton Street,  Unadilla NY  13849. On-line condolences may be made at:   www.wmaddenfh.com.  Arrangements by the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home 123 Main Street Unadilla.   

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