Patricia Ann Freyne

Patricia Ann Freyne was born on May 3, 1941, in Tucson, Arizona to Jim Kinerk and Hester (Feore) Kinerk. She was the middle of three daughters with sisters Mary and Margaret. Patsy graduated from Bishop Conaty High School and Mount St. Mary’s College, in Los Angeles, with a major in History and an Elementary School teaching credential. In a short time, she met Frank, a New York City native, and they married in 1966. Her greatest pride in life was her five children named Seamus, Sean, Brigid, Cathleen, and Patrick.

Patsy’s teaching career began in Los Angeles, where she taught before dedicating years to raising her children. She later returned to Alcott Elementary School in Riverside, where she was a highly regarded 4th and 5th grade teacher for 18 years. All of her children attended Riverside Poly High School, and inspired by the strong educational values instilled by Patsy and her husband, Frank, as well as their unwavering support, went on to earn many additional degrees.

Patsy was a remarkable cook, known for preparing delicious and healthy meals. She had an extensive menu with many favorites. Fresh bread was always on hand; the wheat kernels being ground (noisily) in home. Patsy was an expert seamstress, starting her sewing journey by crafting her own wedding dress, and decades later lovely sewing dozens of dresses for her granddaughter. Her family treasures the intricate quilts she made.

When Patsy’s mother and several close relatives needed assistance, they moved to Riverside to be close to Patsy, who was always caring, conscientious and dependable. Throughout her life, Patsy loved to talk with friends, and she had many. Patsy also loved dogs, particularly shelties, with Gopher being her childhood sheltie, and Tipperary and Roary more recent shelties.

Always very prayerful and devoted to the Rosary, Patsy had a powerful Catholic faith which gave her life much purpose. In recent years, her home church was St. Andrew Newman Center, adjacent to UC Riverside, which will be the location of her funeral Mass on Dec. 11 at 11 am. Patsy is survived by her husband Frank, son Seamus of Starkville, Mississippi; son Sean of Ventura; daughter Brigid of Temecula; daughter Cathleen of Chandler, Arizona; and son Patrick of San Diego, soon to be Spring, Texas. Patsy cherished her grandchildren Ryan and Katie (the children of Cathleen and Peter Eberle), and Kieran and Declan (the children of Heather and Patrick Freyne). Patsy was preceded in death by her parents and sister Mary.