Obituaries

Rhoda H. Patterson, 85

September 22, 1937 - January 09, 2023

Rhoda H. Patterson, 85, of Lancaster, entered eternal life on January 9, 2023, while under care at Homestead Village. Born in East Lampeter on September 22, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Harry H. and Mary (High) Herr, and step-daughter of Oliver R. Hurst, Sr. Rhoda was married to her loving husband, Robert Patterson, for over 66 years.

She absolutely loved spending as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren, going on walks to parks, watching squirrels and other small animals and naming every tree by their leaf shape. When her children were young, she trained a wild crow that the family named Jim, to do tricks which entertained them and all the neighbors. Feeding the local wild squirrels by hand, was another one of the things she enjoyed doing, it was a testament to her patience in life.

She wore very many hats during her blessed and fruitful life. She was a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters’ troop and organized many camping trips and fundraisers, and always had lots of their cookies in the house. Her faith was a very integral part of her life and family activities. She helped with the regular church potluck dinners and was a Sunday school teacher in her earlier years, and later in life became a minister to her church. She was a leader in her local Mother of Twins Club and Job’s Daughters, using her experience to organize many fundraisers for both. She loved watching hot air balloons, so after being gifted one of their rides she reached out to the hot air balloon team and became an official hot air balloon chaser. From there she enjoyed many hot air balloon rides; floating peacefully above the trees with her team members. Her husband, Bob, was self-employed and she enjoyed working alongside him often in his business; making deliveries, meeting his customers, and helping to make sure he had all the help he needed to succeed. One of her very impactful activities was volunteering for the suicide hotline in Lancaster, it was something that was extremely rewarding for her. It allowed Rhoda to help people who were suffering and needed someone to talk to; she lived her life in service to others. Some of the hobbies that she loved filling her spare time with were reading good books, preforming reflexology, doing handwriting analysis, sewing and needlework. She really loved to create beautiful needlework art that she gifted to others.

She loved her family immensely and is profoundly missed by her husband Robert; children, Dawn, wife of Richard Stratchko of Willow Street, Keith Patterson of New Providence, Craig Patterson, husband of Carolyn of Lancaster, and Brenda, wife of John Estep of Lancaster; grandchildren, Justin Stratchko, Lindsay Kepner (Trevor), Kelsey Stark (Adrian Gross), Rachel Stratchko, Daniel Patterson, Tyler Patterson, Nicholas Patterson, Erin McHugh (Joe), Alex Patterson, Zachary Estep, Kerri Estep, and Lee Estep; great grandchildren, Henry Kepner, Anthony and Lilly Stark, Emma, Thomas and Johnathan Gross, Serenydee Patterson, Adalyn, Jack and Jocelyn Patterson and her sisters, Florence Mohn and Ruthann Kauffman (Dennis) and step-sister Joanne Hurst. She was preceded in passing by her sister, Barbara Rosenberry, brother-in-law, Paul Mohn and step-brother Oliver (Dick) Hurst, Jr. and step-sister Ruth Ann Townsend.

The family is welcoming guests to a Memorial Mass at 9 AM Saturday January 14th at the Historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 119 S. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 and on Monday January 16th to a viewing from 9 AM to 10 AM at the Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home & Crematory, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA 17584, with her funeral service beginning at 10 AM. Interment to follow at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Rhoda’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Visitation
Saturday, January 14, 2023
9:00 AM
MEMORIAL MASS at Historic St. Mary's Catholic Church
119 S. Prince St.
Lancaster, PA 17603
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Visitation
Monday, January 16, 2023
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home & Crematory
2421 Willow Street Pike
Willow Street, PA 17584
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Services
Monday, January 16, 2023
9:00 AM
Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home & Crematory
2421 Willow Street Pike
Willow Street, PA 17584
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