Patricia Petersman

Pat was a woman of remarkable strength and intelligence, with a great sense of humor and a kind heart. She liked things to make sense. She believed in being prepared, knowing the facts, and getting things right. She brought that same care and attention to her work, her home, the people she loved, and the causes she believed in. Pat was practical, direct, resilient, and never shy about telling you what she thought.

She was beautiful and took pride in the life and surroundings she created. She loved order, and there was care and intentionality behind everything she did. She had strong opinions, a strong mind, and a capacity for deep thought and genuine love. Those who knew her well knew that side of Pat and will miss it deeply.

That determination served her well during an extraordinary career of more than 40 years with Kilduff Development, where she worked as a property manager. Pat was exceptional at her job. Meticulously organized, she took great pride in doing her work well. Over four decades, the people she worked with became far more than colleagues. She was a trusted and valued part of the Kilduff family and formed a lasting friendship with owner Jim Kilduff.

Pat was a voracious reader who read more than a hundred books each year. She loved what she called “fluff” books and also enjoyed exploring health and holistic wellness approaches that were not always conventional.

Books even helped lead Pat to one of the happiest chapters of her life. After falling in love with stories written by Nicholas Sparks and set in North Carolina, she and her longtime partner, Jerome “Jerry” Heisler, bought a vacation home in New Bern. For ten years they traveled back and forth between Pennsylvania and North Carolina, enjoying a place Pat had first experienced on the pages of a book and then had the joy of making part of her own life.

Pat once imagined that New Bern might be where she would eventually retire. Then her granddaughters Alexis and Peyton came along, and becoming a grandmother changed the picture entirely. Pat adored her granddaughters, and Alexis and Peyton became two of the brightest lights in her life. The dream of retiring in North Carolina was replaced with something she wanted even more: being present for them and watching them grow. Being a grandmother opened a special and treasured new chapter in Pat’s life.

Pat shared her life for 33 years with Jerry. Their years together held laughter, challenges, companionship, loyalty, and love. Jerry remembers most of all Pat’s good heart and the way she stood beside him through difficult times. She was deeply dedicated to helping the people she loved, and when someone she cared for needed her, Pat showed up.

That generosity extended beyond her family. Pat believed strongly in helping others, and she did so thoughtfully by researching charitable organizations before giving, wanting to know that as much of her contribution as possible would reach the people it was intended to help. Among the causes she supported were the Salvation Army, Boys Town, and Habitat for Humanity, where she also volunteered. Her generosity was thoughtful and intentional—just like Pat.

Pat was predeceased by her beloved sister, Kathleen Perri, and brother-in-law, Frank Perri; her mother, Kay DiCicco; and her father, Edward Dillon.

She leaves behind her partner, Jerry Heisler; her son Craig Petersman, his wife, Kim, and daughters Alexis and Nichole; her son David Petersman, his wife, Debbie, and daughter Peyton; her sisters, Joan Flannery and her husband, Bill, Carol Ferguson and her husband, William, and Eileen Bower and her husband, Bill. She also leaves extended family, friends, and the many people whose lives were touched by hers over nearly eight decades.

Her family is deeply grateful to the professionals of Penn Home Hospice, whose compassion and tenderness brought comfort and dignity to Pat in her final days, and to the many friends and family members who surrounded her with love and care.

Family and friends are invited to arrive between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. A service celebrating Pat’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Wm. Rowen Grant Funeral Home, 659 Street Road, Southampton, PA 18966. A luncheon will immediately follow the service, with details to be shared with family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pat’s memory to Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County at habitatbucks.org/give.