Patricia L. Mensch - Obituary

n Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Patricia Lynn Mensch, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, passed away at the age of 90, exactly one month shy of her 91st birthday, in Ashburn, VA. Pat was born on February 8, 1934, in St. Paul, MN, to the late Melvin Sidney Bowen and Inez Waters. Pat had a tragic childhood; her mother died immediately after Pat's birth, and her father was not able to adequately take care of his two children, so Pat was moved around to many children's facilities and families, but she was eventually able to funnel all of that missed love to her family and friends which made her an even more extraordinary person to everyone that met her. Pat attended Humboldt High School in St. Paul and received her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1954 from the Charles T. Miller School of Nursing. She was an operating room nurse in her early years, moving from Minnesota to New York and then to California, and finally settling down for 13 years in St. Petersburg, FL. She moved to Reston, VA, in 1972 and then had a long tenure as an executive secretary with Planning Research Corporation (PRC) and Northop Grumman until she finally retired at the age of 79 to enjoy her years living at Lansdowne Woods (Leisure World) in Lansdowne, VA, where she developed great friendships and comfort. Family was the most important thing in Pat's life, and her childhood pushed her even harder to love family, God, and friends. Pat enjoyed the serenity of the beach and the sounds of the ocean. She enjoyed Bible Study, delicious homemade meals, good football games, and reading. Most of all, she cherished being with her family and friends. Pat will be remembered for her unequivocal kindness and love. She was an angel on Earth, and now she is our angel looking down on us from above. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Marshall Bowen. Pat leaves in loving memory her children, Cynthia L. Funk (Alan), Joseph P. Mensch (Ruth), and Laura J. Thomas (Hunter); her grandchildren Amanda, McKenzie, Joey, Megan, and Ryan, along with her great-grandchildren, William and Paige. Please take a moment to leave a condolence for the family by visiting the Memories link on this page.