Rhoda Olukumi Patnelli, born August 30, 1937, in Banjul, Gambia, West Africa, and was the daughter of Herbert V. Norman and Clarice P. Norman who resided at 106 Campbell Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Rhoda was married to George Bernard Idowu “Pat” Patnelli of Freetown, Sierra Leone, on January 10, 1959 in Monrovia, Liberia. It was love at first site and from their union they raised four children; Donald, Bernadette, George and Williametta.
They relocated from Liberia in 1968 to the U.S. where they established residence in the Bronx, NY. New York became an integral part of her life. In March 1989 they relocated to their current residence in Midlothian, VA. On June 27, 2012 “Mrs. P” lost her soulmate; which was the saddest day of her life. She “missed him every day”.
She attended and graduated from the following schools: Annie Walsh Memorial School; BA, Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone—Elementary Education; BS, Iona College—Special Education, New Rochelle, NY; studied Business and Secretarial Science at Monroe Business College, Bronx, NY; Computer Science, J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College, Midlothian, VA.
“Mrs. P” worked as a Teacher in Bong County and Nimba, Liberia; Hastings-on-Hudson and Yonkers, NY as well as Midlothian, VA.
She also had the distinguished opportunity to serve her native land as a Secretary at the Consulate of Sierra Leone to the United Nations during the late 1970’s. A Jack of all trades she also worked for Aramark as a Service Director and General Manager finally retiring in 2012.
A faithful sole she was an active member of St. Mathias Episcopal Church in Midlothian, VA where she volunteered on the church Vestry, was a Lay Reader, and Eucharistic Minister. As one of the founding members of The Annie Walsh Old Girls Association “AWOGA”; she hosted the first formal gathering and fund raiser Garden Party at her home in Mt. Vernon, NY.
“Mrs. P” loved her family dearly and cherished her friends; a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother she cherished her grand and great grandchildren. Mrs. P made it a point in her life to care for her grandchildren during the summers of their early years; she nurtured their spiritual wellbeing by introducing them to bible camp, teaching them the importance of developing their family ties, encouraging their cooking skills and being the grandma that would let them get away with anything.
She loved to travel and travel she did; almost seeing the World. She loved making new friends and celebrating life. She made an impact on many of the people she met in her journey through life. Some she adopted, some she taught, some she helped as they may have needed her to and many she partied with! She enjoyed cooking and seeing people enjoy her culinary creations. She loved entertaining with all the accoutrements; and as a result a visit to the Patnelli home was always a party in the making.
Left to cherish her memory are her loving children Donald Patnelli, Bernadette Hardy (Carroll), George Patnelli Jr., and Williametta Patnelli-Jackson (Mark). Her grandchildren Diane Patnelli, Donald Patnelli Jr., Miquilina Graham (Walton), Alexandra Hardy; Stephvon Patnelli; Kumi Patnelli; Aaron Jackson; and eight great grandchildren Dontay, Donijah, Thalia, Ronin, Shaliyah, Kamille, Adrianne, and Isiah; as well as her siblings Clarence Norman (Lily), Boneca Norman, Clarissa Dandeh-N’jie and Bunting Norman (Sarah). In addition she leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and neighbors here and abroad.
