Patty Duncan

Patty graduated from Canoga Park High School. While at Canoga, Patty was on a 4 by 4 schedule, going to school in the morning and working in the afternoon at the Hollywood Bowl, with her brothers, Garth and Keith. During the summer months her Father also worked at the "Bowl".

After graduation, Patty enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, but decided she enjoyed working (and getting paid) so she left school and worked full time at the "Bowl" and then the Los Angeles Music Center, also with her brother Garth.

In 1968 her father, Randall "Randy", had an opportunity to move to his beloved San Francisco with his company, Title Insurance and Trust Company. So the family packed up and moved to San Francisco. Patty's brother, Garth, stayed in Los Angeles. Her other brother had joined the Air Force, as this was the time to either join the military or be drafted. So when her parents and her sister, Melody, left for San Francisco, Patty stayed in Los Angeles with her Grandmother, continuing to work at the Music Center.

Patty's parents, Randy and Patricia, missed Patty and had her move up to San Francisco. There was a great deal of resentment and Patty had a hard time getting used to the fog; especially since she truly was a Southern California girl.

Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, her Father got Patty a job at Title Insurance and Trust Company, where she caught on to the work of escrow and accounting. It is there that Patty met the love of her life, Alan Duncan, and after a short romance got married. After a few years, Patty had an opportunity to go to work for Coldwell Banker while Alan decided to move to First American Title Company. Alan was a title officer and Patty missed working in escrow so she left Coldwell Banker and went to work at First American Title as an escrow officer.

After 5 years of marriage, Alan and Patty were blessed with their first child, Bonnie. No child was more loved. Then 2 years later they were blessed with another daughter, Heather. When Heather was born the love her Mother and Father had for her was tremendous, no two children were better loved and cherished. The two girls became Patty's sole reason for living.

Patty continued to work for First American and had moved to their San Mateo County operation. She was an escrow officer, a title officer and then became their bookkeeper. She had finally found her niche in the title industry. Patty excelled in accounting and auditing. Patty gained recognition in the home office in Santa Ana and became their Internal Audit Manager. This position required her to travel throughout the country to audit various state and county offices of First American, and helped set up the Sarbanes Oxley procedures at First American.

At the end of 2009, Patty was laid off, due to the down swing in the economy, and was unable to find work as she was "over qualified" for the jobs she attempted to obtain, so Patty officially retired.

Patty decided to make an omelet out of the broken eggs and enjoyed reading, watching her "soaps", San Francisco Giants and 49ers, going to Hawaii and Las Vegas with her sister. She also enjoyed being with her two girls and finally being able to spend time with them.

In 2012 Patty was diagnosed with cancer. From the moment she was told by the doctors, she was determined to do whatever was necessary to fight, as both her parents had died from cancer. Patty went through chemotherapy and then the operation, which everyone was hoping was going to remove all the cancer cells. Unfortunately not all of the cells could be removed, so Patty started to have a second run at the chemotherapy. By this time Patty was so frail and weak; the infusion center was giving her fluids even before the chemo could be administered. But Patty was determined to continue, after the second attempt to give her the therapy, she was too weak to continue with the treatments.

During the last few days, Patty truly felt she could fight this terrible decease, but her body was too weak.

Patty's family is so appreciative for all the cards, good thoughts and prayers her friends sent. She touched the lives of so many and will never be forgotten, as she has left a tremendous void in the lives of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, it is Patty's wish that donations be made to any of the organizations listed in the "Charities" section.