Patricia A. Bruhn

Calling hours will be at the Leahy Funeral Home, 27 Smith Ave, Kingston, NY on Tuesday, August 15th from 4-7pm.

A funeral procession will form 10:00 AM Wednesday at the funeral home.

Patricia's funeral mass will take place on Wednesday, August 16th at 11 am at St Mary's & St Peter Parish, 160 Broadway, Kingston, NY.

Patricia Ann Bruhn (Parete) of Kingston, NY, died at age 79 on August 7th, 2023, after a long but courageously fought battle with Parkinson's disease.

Born in 1944 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. Pat was the daughter of John and Mary (Healy) Parete, sister to John, Mary Donald, Christina, William, Rose, and Catherine. The family briefly lived in Farmingdale, Long Island before moving to Buck Road in Stone Ridge, NY, in the early 50's where Pat attended The Peak one-room schoolhouse and then went on to graduate from Kingston High School in 1962.

Pat earned her RN degree from Benedictine Hospital School of Nursing; thereafter she received her Bachelor of Science from SUNY New Paltz. Her career began as an operating room nurse at Cornell Medical Center in NYC.  After meeting Mike, her adoring husband of 56 years, she moved back to the area and worked in the operating rooms at the US Veteran's Hospital in Albany, Benedictine Hospital and eventually, Hurley Avenue Surgical Center. A natural caregiver, Pat enjoyed a rewarding career in nursing.

Pat was a devoted wife to the Honorable J. Michael Bruhn; cherished mother to Judy (Tracy) Valachovic, Mike (Bridget) Bruhn, and Annie (Jim) Demosthenes; treasured grandmother to Abby, Kyle, Alyssa & Lexi Valachovic; Georgia & Lizzie Demosthenes; Tripp, Teddy & Wells Bruhn.

Pat was active in several community organizations including the Benedictine Hospital Auxiliary, the Junior League of Kingston, and Ulster County 4-H, an organization where she enjoyed mentoring young women. She was a parishioner of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Kingston, NY.

She was most at home enjoying the outdoors in the Adirondack Mountains or sunny southwest Florida. Pat spent many summers lakeside at her camp in Lake Clear, NY, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family and friends. She loved kayaking around the lake and watching from her dock as the sun set over St. Regis Mountain. One of her great joys was spending time at the cabin with her grandchildren, watching them as they swam and showing them how to listen to the loons of the lake at dusk. She also loved the time she spent in Naples, FL.  A sunny game of golf followed by visits on the lanai with friends always made for a good day.  She was an avid reader who loved discussing the qualities of a good story, she enjoyed cooking, sewing, and gardening. In her last years of life some of Pat's happiest times were gathering with others to enjoy concerts given by musician and Hospice caregiver, Terry Blaine.  This group of singers included her most beloved friends: Mary Netter, Pat Loughran, Rose Kelly and others.

She was a wonderful loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed. Pat is predeceased by her parents, Mary and John Parete, her brother William Parete, her mother-in-law, Eleanor Murphy Bruhn and her brother-in-law, Robert (Hector) Bruhn.

Pat and her family are very appreciative of the care provided by Hudson Valley Hospice, Jen Neal, Hospice nurse and Pat's personal home aides, Mariah Shaw and Ashley Cook.

Donations can be made in honor of Patricia to Hudson Valley Hospice or Hudson Valley Hospice Music Therapy, 153 Sawkill Road, Kingston, NY 12401.