Hazel Annette “Ann” Switzer Patterson, of Woodsfield, passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023, resting peacefully in the sun surrounded by her family.
Born on May 15, 1939, in Lincolnton, Georgia, to the late Robert and Avra Danner, she is preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Love; her daughter, Dorothy “Dodie” Switzer; her son, Leonard “Arch” Patterson; and her granddaughter, Brandi Thompson.
Ann was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, and a loving nurse. She dedicated her life to her family and to providing the best possible care for the elderly. Her gentle bedside manner and her genuine concern for all her patients made her a beloved nurse.
In her free time, she enjoyed her family and close friends, gardening, crocheting, volunteering for the local EMS, watching Survivor and westerns, drinking Pepsi, visiting family in Las Vegas, playing bingo, and trips to Disney.
She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Paul Patterson; her daughter, Christine Shields (Jeff), of Gloucester, Virginia; her son, Max Thompson (Julie), of St. Clairsville; her daughter, Sammie Yamagata (Greg), of Las Vegas, Nevada; her daughter, Charity Fato (Bryan), of Wheeling, West Virginia; her brother, Ronnie Danner (Lynette), of Spartanburg, South Carolina; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; many close friends, with special mention to the Gates, the Gianangelis, and the Browns for their loving support.
We will greatly miss Ann’s presence in our lives, but we take comfort in knowing that her loving spirit will live on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Rest in peace, you were a shining example of love and kindness. We will always cherish the beautiful memories we shared with you and the impact that you had on the lives of all who knew you.
Friends were received until the time of funeral service Tuesday May 30, 2023, at the Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield. She will be entered into rest in the Oaklawn Abbey, Woodsfield.
Two things inspired my message:
First, the message my grandmother had written on my mom’s grave, “An angel visited the green earth and took a flower away – my daughter.”
The second something that my aunt recently said to me, “Bad things happen to good people and it should never define you.”
This is a story of my favorite flower. This flower endured many bad things but remained beautiful through it all. This flower spent many years being neglected – often stomped on, unwatered and unloved. It was even told that it was just an ugly weed.
This flower had many hardships in the garden, losing friends and other flowers that it loved. Many times it wilted and wanted to die. It even lost a few petals along the way. Despite everything, its stem, its core, remained strong.
Finally, the right gardener came along and recognized the beauty of the flower. His name was Paul. He watered the flower with Pepsi, fed it, and provided it shade on hot days. Paul loved that flower more than any flower he had ever seen. He saw its beauty and made a promise to always protect it. In his care, the flower flourished and showed its love to the gardener every day by blooming brighter with each season. Suddenly the hardships of the past became just that – the past. They no longer defined the flower but strengthened its stem for many other flowers to lean on.
As all good things come to an end, the flower became weak in its old age. Its petals shriveled and it became spotted. It barely bloomed anymore and even became unrecognizable to many. But, for those of us who loved that flower, we saw that its stem never changed; and that gardener, Paul, loved her through it all. Because, even when the flower forgot who he was, the Pepsi he watered her with still tasted as sweet as she remembered.
An angel has come and picked my flower, just as another angel picked my mother, the flower’s daughter, so many years ago. Together, they are making heaven’s most beautiful garden and someday, I will get to sit there watching the gardener lovingly care for his flowers. But, until that time comes, I will love and protect the gardener as my flower once did. I, too, will grow stronger with his love and wisdom.
Thank you, Grandma, for being my mother when I lost mine. Thank you for strengthening my stem, teaching me to be kind, to be thoughtful, to always be honest even when it’s difficult, and not to be afraid of anyone or anything. I will love you forever and I will nurture my flowers as you cared for me.
Love,
Charity
