Patricia Irene Mills

Patricia was born September 22, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents, Orval and Irene McCarthy, pre-deceased her. She is blessed with one sister, Judith Mary Luibrand. Patricia attended Pershing High School in Detroit where she won many speaking and scholastic honors. On graduation she won the Phi Beta Kappa award and was her class Valedictorian. She enrolled in Marygrove College, but instead married her high school sweetheart, Delbert Calvin Mills, on October 8, 1949. Truly a love match, they celebrated 71 years of marriage in 2020. Delbert died in December of 2020.

Patricia and Delbert have five daughters: Kathy Calverly (John), Sandra Brogger (Eric), Sheryl Frabotta (Anthony), Beverly Barsamian (Jeffrey), and Debra Basso (Michael). They are blessed with nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and a large extended family. She is predeceased by her husband Del, her beloved daughter Sandra Brogger, and grandson Matthew Barsamian.

Patricia enjoyed many hobbies. She was a prolific knitter, making afghans for all in her family. She sang with The Rochester Catholic Chorale and The Birmingham Musical Chorus and Madrigals and performed in plays and designed sets for The Birmingham Musicale Opera Ensemble. She was president of these groups and of The Rochester Symphony Guild, raising funds to support their philanthropic activities. She was editor and publisher for 12 years for the CounterPoint magazine of The Michigan Federation of Music Clubs. She and Delbert enjoyed travel and were privileged to sing the Sunday noon High Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome with The Rochester Catholic Chorale. They also visited England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Patricia enjoyed calligraphy, and enthusiastically embraced the computer and graphic design. She used this skill to work with Del in his electric sign manufacturing business, Mills and Company.

A funeral service will be held on Monday October 10th, 2022 at 11am (instate 10:15am) at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, located at 1400 Inglewood Avenue in Rochester, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be made in Patricia's honor to “The Matthew D. Barsamian Foundation” from the link on this memorial site.