Patricia E. Parker

Patricia was a secretary, a nurse, a homemaker, and most importantly, a mom and grandma. She had four children and was a grandmother of 10. She was beloved by her friends and family alike for her loving, caring, gentle and compassionate spirit. She was the kindest and most selfless person anyone knew. When someone was in need, particularly her friends, she would do anything she could to help make things better. She will be deeply missed by all.

Pat was born Nov. 20, 1943, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her early career involved clerical work at Western Electric and the Wall Street Journal. She became an expert in shorthand writing that she utilized throughout her life to take notes and record conversations. Later on, she obtained a cosmetology license to become a hairdresser. Her love of helping people steered her toward a career in nursing and she became a licensed practical nurse in 1982. She would go on to help and touch the lives of countless people in hospitals and nursing homes across New Jersey.

She met John Keith Parker on a blind double-date with a friend in 1968. They were married a year later on a snowy afternoon in February. They would go on to become the classic police officer and nurse family duo and remained happily married for 45 years.

Together they raised four children, John, Barbara, Douglas and Shannon, in the New Jersey suburb of Jackson. Pat’s life in the suburbs was idyllic, with a big backyard, a swimming pool, surrounded by an abundance of family and friends. Their house was always loud and happily chaotic with the sound of playing children and many neighborhood celebrations. While never the best cook, Pat always put in her top effort to create a daily home-cooked meal. The family shared numerous laughs over her improvised meatloaf and her dried-out pork chops.

If asked what her greatest accomplishment was, she would unabashedly say her “four millions.” For Pat, her children meant the world to her—more than any amount of money she could ever earn. She was a happy person with a big, contagious laugh. To see her children marry and raise families of their own brought her a tremendous amount of joy. There is no doubt that she wanted all her children and grandchildren to be together whenever possible. One of the most important things to Pat was to see her family happy.

She is survived by her husband John Keith Parker, and her children and grandchildren as follows: her son, John Louis Parker, and his son Liam Jackson; her daughter, Barbara Ann Shaffer and her husband David, and their children, David, Daniel, and Ryan; her son Douglas Harry Parker and his wife, Karlyn Ferrari-Parker and their children, Fox and Phoenix; and her daughter Shannon Patrice Haire and her husband, Scott, and their children, Aiden, Hunter, Zachary and Madison. She is survived by her brothers and sisters, Linda, Richie, Judith and Barbara.

A viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, 27 Washington St., East Stroudsburg.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 in the Church of St. John Roman Catholic Church, 5171 Milford Road (Village of Marshalls Creek), East Stroudsburg. Interment will follow in Laurelwood Cemetery, Bryant Street, Stroudsburg.

Arrangements under the direction of Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, East Stroudsburg, PA.