Patricia M. Cunningham

Patricia M. Cunningham (Pat)) died peacefully on May 30th 2020 at age 89 from Alzheimer’s disease. She was born to Marie and Frederick Raynor on August 23rd 1930 and was raised in Farmingdale New York. Her father died suddenly when she was 3 years old, and her Mom remarried a wonderful Man Theodore Naar (Teddy) who adopted her and together she was the apple of their eye, as the only child. Pat was very outgoing and popular in school, and became a drum majorette, tap dancer and joined the drama club in high school. Pat met the love of her life, Walter at a party at The Garden City Hotel in Long Island in 1948 and married not long after. They were married for 57 wonderful years. They raised four children, living in Levittown and then moved with Walt’s Job with Levitt and Sons, to her dream house and neighborhood in Stony Brook New York. Pat was a homemaker in her children’s younger years but enjoyed some part time work relating to her love of shopping, which included working at JC Penney and the Bootery shoe store. She loved bowling and joined leagues during those years in Long Island, along with camping trips with the pop up camper with Walt and their children. She loved going to the swim club, riding her blue and white Schwinn bike, gardening, dancing, playing ping pong, spending time at the beach, attending the Methodist Church, and enjoyed having many friends, neighborhood block parties, BBQ’s, especially enjoyed hosting and being the life of the party. In 1972 they moved to New Jersey for Walt’s job, and it is there that Pat made a 35-year career in Real Estate when her youngest became a teenager. She started at Alan Schatz Realty and later joined Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors. Walt later got his license and joined her as a team. As the family grew and grandchildren arrived she enjoyed having the family get together at their last home they owned, in Marlton, and hosting picnics at the Lake, or BBQ’s on the deck, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, and of course the Cunningham family tradition that started with just her and Walt of going out to dinner on New Year’s Day every year for decades. At these occasions Pat always had the camera out and when we got together the next time she was sure to have the little brown photo books for us to take home as memories. We always rolled our eyes with the picture taking, but surely glad we have those books to flip through now. Although her later life included losing her two sons suddenly from heart attacks, and her husband, followed by being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 78, and moving to assisted living, and finally to Cadbury nursing home, she always managed as with every challenge, to remain the eternal optimist, saying things like “That was then this is now” and “Life is what you make it”. She had an amazing ability to adapt to her circumstances, and became known as the new resident greeter at the Assisted Living in Voorhees, always welcoming new residents to make them feel more comfortable and helping their families adjust to leaving them. Many becoming her friends. Later at the nursing home she was affectionately known as the “favorite”, nick names included Peppermint Patty, Patty Cakes, and the Ice Cream Lady, because of her love for ice cream- She spread happiness until the end of her life with her sunny smile and a wave for everyone who came in. Now others are welcoming her “Home” with a familiar smile and a wave for her to come join the party! Patricia was predeceased by her parents, her husband Walter, her sons Lawrence (Larry) and Frederick (Fred) She is survived by her daughters Bonnie (Zoppel- Tom), and Mary (Rinaldi –Larry) Her 8 grandchildren, Stacie, Brian, Holly, Joseph, Lawrence Jr., Stephen, Kathleen and Christine. Also 7 great grand children, Joshua, Matthew, Sean, Emma, Thomas, Selah and Zachary. A graveside service will be held at Berlin Cemetery. In Pat’s memory Plant a tree or donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. Because of COVID-19 concerns, please contact the family for details about the service.