Patricia A. (Yukna) Fitzpatrick, age 79, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of William F. Fitzpatrick with whom she shared 55 years of marriage.
She was born in Brockton on September 4, 1942 and was the daughter of the late Soter and Genevieve (Jackson) Yukna.
Pat was raised in the north end of Brockton and was a graduate of Brockton High School with the Class of 1960. Pat cherished fond memories of her early years enjoying fun times and summers with family and friends at Woods Lake. In her BHS Senior year she met her special ’60 classmate Billy Fitz.
Growing up she was surrounded by her mother’s sewing business and her interest in color and fabric surfaced at a young age. After studying art at The School of Practical Art in Boston, Pat then became a legal secretary and worked at the firm of Nutter, McClennen, and Fish. While raising her family, her artistic career as a painter, quilter and basket weaver began to emerge. Her work in all three media earned her a reputation as a highly skilled and creative artist / designer.
After moving to Chelmsford in 1969, Pat became active in the local arts community and is one of the Founders of the Chelmsford Art Society. She served as a member of the Chelmsford Cultural Council for 14 years and for many years was a member of the Northeast Basket Makers Guild. Pat created a limited-edition one of a kind basket series for the town of Chelmsford and several Massachusetts towns surrounding Chelmsford and often demonstrated weaving techniques in local communities and in her studio. She wrote a popular handbook for beginning weavers entitled “B is for Baskets”. Pat also created wool and cotton wall hangings, hand painted pillows, painted candle holders and FitzMitts-hand decorated fleece mittens. There was no limit to her creative talents.
Italy was her favorite European country which she traveled to extensively with her daughter. She enjoyed painting scenes from Tuscany and the small hilltop villages of the Amalfi coast. Interests and hobbies also included gardening and creative cooking. Most of all, Pat cherished the time spent with her family and summering on Cape Cod. She loved walking at the beach and picking shells, watching the seagulls and cherishing the smell of the salt air and the natural beauty of the seaside shores. She relished in hosting and preparing family favorite dishes, desserts and tasty treats at the FitzFam ’42’ Homestead. This was Pat’s own special warm creative way of expressing her caring love.
“Losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know. Pat’s genuine goodness, her motherly caring and wisdom live on like a legacy of love that will always be with her beloved ‘FitzKids’, holding her children’s hands for a while, but their hearts forever.”
In addition to her loving husband, Pat leaves her children William (Jen), Ft Worth, TX; Timothy (Kathleen), Indialantic, FL; and Meghan (Jeff), Carlsbad, CA; and Grandkids Ashley, Emily, Lauren, Connor, Reilly and Casey.
Funeral services and interment will be held privately on Cape Cod.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Funeral director Paul A. Hardy, Jr. For online condolences please visit CHELMSFORDFUNERALHOME.COM.
View the online memorial for Patricia A. Fitzpatrick
Published by Lowell Sun on Oct. 10, 2021.
