Patricia Atwater

It is with great sadness that the family of Patricia Hardee Atwater, fondly known as "Angel", announces her passing on Monday, December 4, 2017, at the age of 92. Pat is a fourth-generation native Floridian, growing up in both Jacksonville, and Sebring, FL. The Village of North Palm Beach has been her home for more than 50 years, with her husband, John S. Atwater, who predeceased her in 2001. She will be forever remembered by her six children, Michael (Nancy), Enid, Patti (Hugo), Douglas (SooJin), Jeff (Carole), and Broward (Derry). Pat also will be cherished in memory by her eleven grandchildren, Brooks, Brady, Emily, Ashley, Amyleigh, John Broward, Amanda, Courtney, Noel, Stephen and Sam, and eight great-grandchildren. Her brothers, Douglas, L.A., and Randolph and her sisters, Enid and Barbara Jeanne predeceased her with one surviving sister, Annie Lee Tate of Tampa. Pat was a force of positive and boundless energy. Believing that all children should be exposed to reading she pulled together with other young mothers of the Village and created the Library Society of North Palm Beach. First borrowing books and setting up a temporary space but then relentlessly pushing the Village Council to construct in 1968 what is now our Village Library. Believing that all children should be exercising outdoors and learning sportsmanship she set out to teach herself the game of tennis, became an instructional tennis professional and went on to teach hundreds of children the sport of tennis for years at the North County YMCA for free. When North Palm Beach wanted tennis courts of their own she relentlessly took to calling on donors to step up and contribute, when North Palm Beach wanted to build a recreation center she was back at it until she nailed down a donor. She was a fierce competitor and a colorful personality, dedicated to family, community, and country. The "Angel" was a World War II bride and an American Patriot like no other. First you heard her coming your direction in her red convertible with American flags taped all over it while speakers were blasting "America the Beautiful". When she could no longer drive you saw her coming on her bicycle with American flags taped to the handlebars with a red, white and blue top hat and flowing boa. When she could no longer ride a two-wheeler she climbed on her big tricycle with red, white and blue streamers. She was a regent in the Seminole Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and established a DAR scholarship for children who participated in charitable work. Pat Atwater was a woman of profound faith and she lived it in her volunteerism. As a parishioner of St. Clare she served as a Eucharistic Minister, a Lector and dedicated many years as an instructor for adults exploring a deeper understanding of Catholicism and seeking initiation into the Catholic Church. Patricia Hardee Atwater loved being with her husband John, she loved being the mother of six children and cherished each member of our family, as it grew larger and larger. She loved the Village of North Palm Beach giving most of her adult life to making it the "Best place to live under the Sun". She loved the State of Florida, a student of its history and a shaper of its future. And beyond any doubt, she loved the United States of America and all who have fought to create her, defend her and preserve her as the world's bastion of freedom and liberty. Godspeed Patricia Hardee Atwater! A Visitation and Prayer Vigil will be held on Friday, December 15, from 5:00PM to 7:30PM at Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral Home, at 754 US Highway One, North Palm Beach 33408. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Clare Catholic Church, on Saturday, December 16, at 10:00AM at 821 Prosperity Farms Rd., North Palm Beach, FL 33408 with Reverend Thomas O'Shea officiating. The family will be immediately departing following the service for the interment in Sebring, FL. In lieu of flowers, friends might consider a donation in Pat Atwater's name to the Friends of the North Palm Beach Library, 303 Anchorage Drive, North Palm Beach, FL 33408. (https://www.village-npb.org/202/Friends-of-the-Library)

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