SFWA member Patricia Anne Matthews passed away on December 7, 2006.

Her family provided the following:

Dear Family and Friends,

It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Patricia Matthews (our “Oma”) passed away in our home at 5:30 a.m. on Thurs. Dec. 7, 2006. We were with her when she expired and our family found great comfort in the knowledge that she did not appear to be in any pain or discomfort. Late Wednesday night our parish priest arrived to anoint her and to pray with our family. We are so grateful for the timeliness of that visit. It allowed us the opportunity we had been hoping for to pray together for the peaceful repose of her soul.

On Saturday, October 14th, Patty suffered respiratory failure as a direct result of her congestive heart failure. She was rushed to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center where she was resuscitated and placed on a ventilator. She was advised by her cardiologist that she would need to undergo several invasive procedures in order to determine the cause of the heart failure. Specifically, angioplasty was recommended as the primary diagnostic. Patty refused the procedures and, after being accessed by a medical team at the hospital, was placed on Hospice.

On October 25th, Patty moved into our home and we had the privilege of caring for her during the last weeks of her life. Yavapai Regional Medical Center Hospice made it possible for Patty to live out her final days with her family in comfort and with dignity. Additionally, Hospice provided a network of support including physicians, nurses, and spiritual direction. We are grateful to all of them for their continual vigilance and support.

For family and friends who did not yet know that Patty was ailing, we want you to know that our thoughts are especially with you. We feel extraordinarily blessed to have been by Patty's side but we know that your willingness to be there in spirit is the most invaluable gift of all. Your thoughts and prayers continue to be an immeasurable source of comfort for our family. Thank you.

In keeping with Patty's spirit of enjoying life, we invite you to join us for a memorial service in her honor on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Services will be held at Hampton Funeral Home, 240 S. Cortez, Prescott [Arizona]. Visitors may arrive at 1:30 p.m.

After the service we will convene at Lynx Lake for Disbursement of the Ashes (weather permitting). See attached map for directions and times. Please send flowers directly to the funeral home.

Again, many thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Deepest Regards,

The Brisco Family: Dave, Kristi,
Miranda, Camden, Jenna, Jordan, and Landon

"Anyone who stays away from a death because of distress, because the physical aspects can be so very unpleasant, will turn out to have missed the one experience of a lifetime which can make known the true heights of love." -Evelyn Francis Capel

Please note that Patricia Matthews is not Patricia Shaw Mathews. We apologize for the error.

Updated December 18, 2006