Patricia Carole Vartanian
January 3, 1943 - December 26, 2012
Obituary
Patricia Carole Vartanian, SP
(Name in Religion: Sr. John Marie)
Sr. Patricia Vartanian died on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 11:35 a.m. at Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, at 69 years of age, after 51 years as a Sister of Providence. Vigil Service: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA, at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA, at 1:00 p.m. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, WA, is in charge of the arrangements.
Sr. Patricia was born to John and Mary Theresa (Boyajian) Vartanian on January 3, 1943 in Hanford, CA, joining an older brother, John. She attended St. Finbar Grade School and graduated from Providence High School, Burbank, California, in 1960. From the time she was in 6th grade she knew she was called to be a sister.
Sr. Patricia entered the Sisters of Providence on August 15, 1960, attended Seattle University taking classes at Providence Heights in Issaquah, WA, and made her first profession on August 19, 1963, and her final vows on August 25, 1968.
Her academic accomplishments include: B.A., Seattle University, Seattle, WA, 1965; Math classes, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 1965; Math classes, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 1966-68; B.A., University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1971-73; Student, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 1983-85; Intern, Providence Medical Center, Portland, OR, 9/85-11/85; M.B.A., University of California, Berkeley, CA, 1985-86; Master of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 1986.
From 1965-1971, she held teaching positions at St. Joseph Grade School, Vancouver, WA; Monroe High School, Fairbanks, AK; and Kennedy High School, Seattle, WA.
Additional ministries include accounting and financial positions at: Providence Hospital, Everett, WA, 1973; Providence Heights, Issaquah, WA, 1973-1975; Providence Hospital, Oakland, CA, 1975-1983; Providence Medical Center, Portland, OR, 1985-87; Assistant Administrator-Finance, Providence Extended Care Center, Anchorage, AK, 1987-89; Provincial Councilor/Treasurer, Sacred Heart Province, 1989-96; Provincial Treasurer/Councilor, Holy Angels Province, Edmonton, Alberta, 1997-2003.
Sr. Patricia held certificates as a Certified Kinesionics Practitioner, Therapeutic Reflexologist, Massage Therapist, and was licensed through the Professional Massage Program of Ashmead College, Seattle. She was a member of the American Massage Therapy Association.
While in Alberta, Sr. Patricia served on the Board of Directors for Father Lacombe Nursing Home and Fonds Providence. In Seattle, she was on the Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province Retirement Trust Committee, as well as the Retirement Trust for the former Sacred Heart Province; and the Northwest Women’s Religious Investment for the Philippine Sector.
She also attended numerous workshops, classes, conferences, and retreats from 1964 – 2010 regarding theology, leadership, healthcare in-service for new leadership, board management, applied kinesiology, herbal medicine, reflexology, and French lessons.
Sr. Patricia saw her ministries in finance as a way of serving the poor through sound financial management of the resources available to each ministry so that patients and residents would have all that they needed for healing or skilled care. Her love for the poor included serving on committees and foundations that distribute funds for those in need.
Sr. Patricia loved sports and was a long-time fan of the Dodgers, the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Mariners, whose games she frequently attended.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, John, Visalia, CA and eight nieces and three nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
Dear family of Patricia, you are no doubt finding comfort through conversations with family and friends, perhaps by looking at collected photographs and with good memories. May you also find comfort through prayer to our heavenly father as he is “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation.” Look forward to the time at Revelation 21:4 where death will be gone forever and those dear loved ones who have died will be resurrected to life on a paradise earth. (Psalm 37:9-11; John 5:28,29)
Although we had not been in contact with each other I often thought of Pat. We had been classmates at St. Finbar, Providence H.S. and the Sisters of Providence novitiate. I often think of her with fond memories. God bless her and her family. both birth and Providence.
Sr. Patricia was a gifted woman with many skills especially with finance, gardening and cooking She was quiet in many ways yet she spoke with a keen sense of humor and profound wisdom. She could talk for hours about sports. Patricia loved to have two birthdays a year. She loved her half birthdays. Today she celebrates her 70th birthday in a new way.Thank you Sr. Patricia for all you gifted our community with through your deep sense of prayer and call to community living. Sr. Beatrice
To the family of Patricia Vartanian; I am sorry for your loss and I will keep you and her in my prayers. I attended Providence High with Patricia, and we were both fond of sports.
The spring in your step and the smile on your face will truly be missed.
Sorry for the loss of another Sister. May her family in friends be held in God’ s hands.
I shared many fond moments with Sr. Partricia as fellow Board Members for Father Lacombe. She was an incredibly kind and loving person and I am saddened by her loss.
Sisters of Providence and family. I am sorry for your loss. Sr. Patricia and I bonded over herbs. We could talk for hrs about herbs and health. I will miss our talks and herbal success stories. Sr. Patricia always had a positive attitude and wonderful sense of humor . Our loss is Heavens gain.
Sr. P I will miss you. Until we meet again in heaven.