Patricia A. Donnelly Obituary (1950 - 2016)

Portland-Patricia Donnelly died peacefully the morning of Sunday, June 19, with both of her children at her bedside. Pat had endured many affronts to her health throughout her life, each of which only made her more stubborn to survive. She outlived many doctors prognoses, many times and by many years, and was vibrant and spunky and devastatingly stylish to the end. Pat grew up in Portland, Maine, the daughter of Chester F. Mrowka, Sr., and his wife Annie. She attended Portland High School, the University of Southern Maine, the University of Maine, and the University of New England. She was a writer, a teacher, and a social worker who worked with at-risk teenagers. While she may not have actually believed in ghosts, she certainly believed in ghost stories and we suspect is excited to now be able to be part of one. The Halloween parties she threw for her children were epic and grotesque; she fiddled with the Ouija board despite her mothers hairdressers warnings that it could conjure demons; and in her nursing home later in life she made friends with staff who enjoyed watching her favorite show with her, The Walking Dead. Most of all, Pat was an incredible and inspiring super-fan of living who despite kidney failure, a stroke, an amputation, and decades of other health challenges loved life so much that every day made her smile. Pat leaves behind a son, David Donnelly of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a daughter, Sara Donnelly of Portland and her partner, Marc McCabe; a brother, Stephen Mrowka of Portland; cousins Mary, Cathy, and Mike Campbell of South Portland and New York City; and one little in-utero granddaughter who she very much anticipated. The celebration of her life will be held at Falmouth by the Sea on Saturday, July 2, from 2:30 5 p.m. Pat had requested that attendees wear bright colors, not black. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the activity funds at St. Josephs Rehabilitation and Residence and Falmouth by the Sea. With love, light, and laughter goodbye, mom! Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. To view Patricias memorial page of share an online condolence please visit www.conroytullywalker.com