Patricia Mary Bell "Trish Miller"

Patricia Mary Wands Bell peacefully passed away into the arms of God on Saturday December 6, 2025, at 3:50 pm at Wake Hospital in Raleigh North Carolina. She was surrounded by her Husband, family and friends.

Patricia was born in Yonkers, NY on July 15, 1958. She was the youngest of seven children of Edward and Jane Wands and was a twin. Her Siblings are Tom Wands (Pat), Gerry Wands, Mary Jane Wands Vurucuoglu (Ali), Peg Smith, Regina Butcher (Tom), and Michael Wands (Mary) her twin brother.

She had three children now adults, Delia Smith (Dillon), Conor Miller, and Burke Miller.

She also had 2 stepchildren Amy Prado (Adam), and Molly Davell (Alex). She was a grandmother to Dawson Smith 7, Devin Smith 4, and twins Maura and Makenna Smith 19 months and also, Amara Prado 20 months.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Gerry.

Patricia attended St. Paul's elementary school in Yonkers and St. Barnabas High School in the Bronx graduating in 1976.

She and her High school friends were like the 4 musketeers and loved to perform folk and religious music and were part of the charismatic renewal. They remained friends for life even though distance and life separated them.

In her adult years, besides being a full-time mom, she stayed active with her church and became a professional musician, songwriter and children's entertainer and preschool teacher owning her own business until she retired at age 60. She continued to perform concerts and festivals and was extremely well known.

She met her husband Michael Bell, a professional musician and school music director in September of 2003.

They dated seriously for 4 years and were married for eighteen years. They resided in Cary, NC and finally in Willow Spring, NC. upon his retirement. They performed and recorded together producing many shows and a Children's CD.

Trish loved to travel both as a child, whether at her family summer home at Peach Lake, NY, a road trip or camping with her friends, and as an adult with friends and family and later with Mike. They took 4 Viking cruises and saw a lot of Europe. Paris was their favorite. But day trips were her favorite as well as visiting relatives and friends. She loved social events.

She was the music ministry lead director for the Magnificat and the Choir director for the Sunday evening service at St. Anns church in Clayton, NC. She volunteered often to help the church. Her and Mike were members and he also was a performer with her in the choir.

She loved her family and friends and never met a person she didn't end up liking and loving. People were drawn to her for her personality and goodness. Trish was a giver, and she loved helping people. She especially loved little babies and young children. She was a great mom and grandmother.

Her husband Mike would tell everyone, "That's my girl" and say, "I love that woman to a level words can't describe. It was rare to see them apart.

Her funeral will be a St. Anns Catholic Church, Highway 70 in Clayton, NC on Thursday December 11 at 11:00 am.

Interment at the columbarium on church grounds will immediately follow. Guests are invited to the church hall for a reception after internment.

In lieu of flowers, Mike asks you donate to St. Anns "Growing with Grace" fund in Patricia's name (wesharegiving.org), A cause she loved. He also thanks each and every one of you for the outpouring of love for Trish and for your support of him during this difficult time.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Saint Ann Catholic Church, located at 4057 US 70 Business Highway W, Clayton, North Carolina, on December 11, 2025, starting at 11:00 am.