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Patricia B. Stivers

March 17, 1918 March 14, 2015
Patricia B. Stivers
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Obituary for Patricia B. Stivers
Patricia Stivers

March 17, 1918 - March 14, 2015

Middletown, NY

Patricia B. Stivers of Middletown, New York, died unexpectedly in Deland, Florida on Saturday, March 14, 2015, with her daughter, Carol by her side. She was 96 years old. Her life stands as a testament to the values of family, faith, friendship, seeing the good in people, and having a positive outlook in life.

Pat was born to Joseph and Mary (nee Neville) Beairsto on March 17, 1918, in Yonkers, New York. She was raised in Middletown, the oldest of 12 siblings with whom she remained close throughout her life. After graduating from Middletown High School in 1936, she married Moses D. Stivers on June 4, 1938. Married for 70 years, they raised their ten children in New York City, West Orange, Newburgh, Poplar Bluff, Florida, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. With her roots firmly in Middletown, she embraced new experiences near and far without worry; one example is the time she spent three weeks in a Miami hotel with three children under five, during war time, waiting for a flight to join Moe in Latin America. She fondly recalled her time in Guatemala and Costa Rica, where she and Moe made many lifelong friends. But they finally returned to Middletown, which they had always called home because it was home to Pat’s large extended family. Living at 6 Lafayette Avenue, we affectionately remember her (in fifties fashion) coffee cup in one hand and cigarette in the other, talking on the phone with her mother, taking a respite from childrearing.

After moving to "the country" (Ridgebury) in 1965, Pat returned to the work force, at Middletown State Hospital, working in the personnel office and later in recreational therapy, and also at the Liberty Street School library. Pat thoroughly enjoyed her work and her relationships with her fellow employees, the clients and the school kids. In her fifties she learned to drive (though not easily), enrolled at OCCC, where Moe was a professor of Spanish, got her AA and then enrolled at Empire State College. After watching her husband retire the year before, she too retired and then took up golf. She was a member of the Middletown Golf Club for many years, where she made friends on the course as well as at the 19th hole. An added treat was running into her brothers, Joe and Jimmy, at the club. Later in retirement she was happy to return to the City of Middletown, to the Clemson Park Condominiums, where her ties to friends, old and new, as well as to her Middletown relatives flourished.

Pat was an avid reader and shopper (see T.J. Maxx) as well as a fan of the Yankees (especially Derek Jeter), the NFL Giants, college football (Notre Dame), professional golf and tennis. She was an inveterate bridge player and was always ready for any kind of party or social function. In the Irish tradition she could tell a great story but was an equally good listener. She loved to travel with her husband, Moe and with her sisters, Betty, Joan, and Carol; she visited Hawaii, Mexico, countries in Europe, and made numerous trips to Florida and Arizona to see her sister Gin’s family, the Hibberts. She wintered for many years in Florida at the homes of her son, John, and her daughter, Carol, and where she celebrated her birthday on St. Patrick’s Day. It was great to see pictures of her basking in the sun at New Smyrna Beach this February with book in hand. Two days before she died, she was enjoying a symphony in Deland with Carol. This was emblematic of her life; she truly lived it to the fullest.

Her family was her calling and she relished her time spent with her brothers and sisters and their families. She often visited her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, from Middletown to Florida, from Michigan to L.A. Pat chose to remain living independently in her condo after Moe’s death in 2009, with the support of her children, nieces and nephews. She invested herself in her family and we were so happy for her when she was named Mother of The Year by the Elks Club.

Pat is survived by her ten children and their spouses: John D. Stivers (and Gail) of Lexington, NC, Thomas M. Stivers (and Arlene) of Westbrookville, NY, Sally N. Cahill (and Robert) of Troy, MI, Carol J. Dill (and John) of Deland, FL, Robert Stivers (and Jeane) of Holland, MI, Peter Stivers (and Diane) of Lee Center, NY, M. Daniel (and Jan) of New Paltz, NY, Christina DeBlock (and William) of Castleton, NY, Carlos Stivers (and Mary Maiorano) of Kalamazoo, MI, and Michael C. Stivers (and Susan) of Los Angeles, CA. Also surviving are her thirty two beloved grandchildren, Lauren Blount, Jim Stivers, Jack Shepard, Joan Gilbert, Rick Stivers, Patrick Stivers, Paul Stivers, David Stivers, Liz Garcia, Chrissy Duryea, Katie Stivers, Josh Stivers, Heather Lowry, Patricia Terzian, Sarah Cahill, Kristin Lannoo, Ryan Hartman, Sheena Frisicano, Lance Stivers, Carly Stivers, Kevin Stivers, Michael Stivers, Allison Berlin, Jason DeBlock, Andrew DeBlock, Matthew DeBlock, Sam Stivers, Colin Stivers, Evan Stivers, Sara Stivers and Max Stivers, as well as her thirty two great grandchildren.

Pat is also survived by her brothers, Alfred Beairsto of Middletown, NY, James Beairsto (and Nancy) of Carolina Shores, NC, Sr. Joan Beairsto of Sparkill, NY, and Sr. Carol Beairsto of Wickatunk, NJ, as well as her sisters-in-law, Nancy Hauser, of Morrison, TN, Irene Beairsto of Prescott, AZ, Phyllis Beairsto of Cave Creek, AZ, and Lois Beairsto of Tampa, FL. She is also survived by over fifty nieces and nephews. Pat was especially close to her niece, Patricia Meyer, with whom she spent a great deal of time. Our family is indebted to Pat for her unflagging love and support of our Mom.

Pat’s egalitarian values, rooted in her Catholic faith, and her optimistic nature serve as inspiration to her entire family. She had a wonderful life of nearly 97 years but for us, it clearly was not long enough. We take solace in the fact that she is reunited with her husband, parents, brothers, sisters, and in-laws. She will be greatly missed and forever cherished.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 21 at the Church of St. Joseph, 149 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY.

Donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 300, 160 Conover Road, Wickatunk, New Jersey 07765, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, P.O. Box 883, Middletown, NY 10940, or to the Moses D. Stivers Memorial Scholarship at Orange County Community College. Checks for the scholarship fund should be made payable to the Educational Foundation of SUNY Orange, 115 South Street, Middletown, NY 10940.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 21 at the Church of St. Joseph, 149 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY.

Donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 300, 160 Conover Road, Wickatunk, New Jersey 07765, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, P.O. Box 883, Middletown, NY 10940, or to the Moses D. Stivers Memorial Scholarship at Orange County Community College. Checks for the scholarship fund should be made payable to the Educational Foundation of SUNY Orange, 115 South Street, Middletown, NY 10940.
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