Patricia “Pat” A. Mandish, 81, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, June 28, 2019 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla. She was surrounded by those she loved and was loved by.
Pat was born October 24, 1937 in Watertown, N.Y. to Joseph Andrew and Eleanor May (Montague) Hanlon. She graduated from Massena High School in 1956. That same year, she married William Mandish of Massena, with whom she would go on to raise six children. She would eventually move her family to Tampa, Fla., where she would attend both undergraduate and graduate school at the University of South Florida. By 1974, she had earned two master’s degrees, one in Haitian history and another in educational leadership. She taught school throughout Hillsborough County, especially enjoying her middle school experience. In 1985, she purchased a large parcel of land in Dade City, where she started the next season of her life raising a variety of animals. In 2000, she would move to Amelia Island and separate in marriage from William. However, they would remain close friends until his death in 2017.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Eleanor Hanlon; a son, William Mandish Jr.; her brother, Peter Hanlon; and her one true love, William Mandish.
Patricia is survived by her five daughters, Kathlene Whyte of Yulee, Fla. and her husband, Michael, Julia Matthews of Tampa and her husband, Jamie, Erin Pozzetta of Fernandina Beach and her husband, James, Katherine Williams of Albany, Ga. and her husband, Adam, and Mary Margaret “Maggie” Mandish of Yulee; two sisters and three brothers, Mary Hanlon of Yulee, Susan Valenti of Yulee, Joseph Hanlon of Tampa, Michael Hanlon of North Carolina; 10 grandchildren, Christopher Mandish, Natalie Mandish, Amber Faircloth, Nicole Solomon, Nathan Mandish, Noelle Mandish, U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas Matthews, Noah Matthews, Maximillian Pozzetta, and Malcolm Pozzetta; and many great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 6, 2019 at her residence, 107 S. 18th St., Fernandina Beach.
Memorials may be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.