Patricia Claire Lometti

Patricia (Patti) Claire Lometti, age 77, passed away on Tuesday, May 28th due to cancer. She was born June 3, 1946, in Oakland, California to her parents, Henry and Claire Rago, whom she said instilled a spirit of service to others which was a hallmark of her life via her motherhood, career, faith, and ministry. Patti was married twice; first to Stephen Glafke from 1968 to 1977 and then to David Lometti from 1983 to 2002. When Patti married David she moved to Fresno, where she would remain a proud resident and member of the community for the rest of her life.

Patti was well-educated and a ‘straight-a’ student. She graduated from St. Elizabeth’s High School in Oakland in 1964. She then went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the College of Holy Names and later her master's degree in social work at the California State University, Fresno.

Patti started her career in social work for Oakland-Alameda County. After obtaining her master’s degree and license, she pursued her desire to guide and help others as a counselor for an employee assistance provider (Insight Counseling) in Fresno for approximately thirteen years. She then spent the rest of her career (almost twenty years) as a therapist/social worker for Fresno County Mental Health. Throughout her retirement, she continued to receive letters from former clients who wanted to thank her for the impact she had on their lives.

Patti’s desire to serve and help those who have been hurt, wounded, under-served, and forgotten was not only displayed in her professional career but also in her ministries and volunteer work. Patti’s compassionate heart and Catholic faith inspired her to devote countless hours to the two causes she was most passionate about: the protection of the unborn and helping women and men who have been traumatized by an abortion. Patti served as a counselor for the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat team in the Central Valley for over twenty years; a ministry focused on inviting men and women back to the Church who have felt separated due to the pain of abortion; and to find guidance, love, and healing in their lives. Patti was also passionate about the work and witness of the Central Valley Right to Life Center, serving on their board for several years and providing a public witness as a faithful prayer warrior outside the local abortion clinic. Patti also volunteered for political campaigns that she hoped would change legislation to protect everyone from conception to natural death.

Patti identified herself as a proud mother and her son Mark always knew no matter where he was or what he was doing that she was always praying for him and waiting for a phone call. However, her identity as a Roman Catholic was first and foremost. She loved being a parishioner and active member of the faith community at St. Anthony of Padua parish in Fresno. She was faithful to prayer (both individually and in groups -especially her weekly Thursday prayer group) and had a strong devotion to the real presence of the Eucharist. Patti was also very proud of her Italian heritage which prompted her to be involved in Fresno’s chapter of the Italian Catholic Federation.

Finally, Patti was also known for her love and compassion for animals. Patti always had at least one cat in her care at home and at least one or two strays from the neighborhood that she would feed and shelter at any given time. Living on a ponding basin in northwest Fresno also gave Patti the opportunity to feed dozens of Canadian geese and mallards that would stop by throughout the year. For better or worse, Patti likely disrupted their normal migration pattern as they had little reason to leave Fresno at any point of the year due to their knowledge that they would have a meal provided to them each and every day.

Patti is survived by her sister, Carol Henry, her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Michaela Glafke, and three step-children, Amy (Lometti) Brown (husband Peter), Aaron Lometti (wife Christine) , and Anna (Lometti) Gibson (husband David).

Although filled with sadness at our loss and experiencing a huge void in our lives that has been created by Patti’s death, our hearts are filled with gratitude for her, her motherhood, her friendship, for how she lived her life, and her model of love, faith, and service to others.