Yvonne Clair (Gardner) Patrick

Born in St. Luke's Hospital in Pittsfield MA, January28, 1934 and passed away quietly surrounded by her children and grandchildren at St. Luke's Hospital-Anderson Campus in Easton, PA on April 15, 2023. Her mother Maude A. Goodwin Gardner was from White Earth Reservation in Pine City Minnesota. Her mother died when she was just 8 years old. Her and her sister Bernice went to live with their paternal grandmother.

She was raised in Berkshire Village in the town of Lanesborough, MA. Her education started at Berkshire Grammer School. Very early in her life, Yvonne learned many skills from cooking to being a part of the Junior Audubon Society. Much of her childhood was spent in church. She loved going to bible studies and Sunday school. She remembered events of her life as young as 3 years old with her grandfather. Through the years she has told stories of God walking with her and protecting her from harm. In high school she became a majorette marching in Pittsfield's many parades. 

She married Russell L. Patrick II of Pittsfield, MA in 1953. Shortly after they married, they moved to Brooklyn, NY. Eventually settling in the brand new Marlboro Projects and had 8 children together. They separated after 14 years of marriage. In 1989, she met Clarence Purnell and had 46 years together. In 2005 they moved to Schenectady, NY and lived there until Clarence passed away in 2015. After Clarence died, she moved to Bethlehem, PA.

While living in Brooklyn, NY, she worked a few jobs, but was mainly a stay at home mother. She worked at A & S Department store in downtown Brooklyn for a short time in the early 60's. In the late 70's she worked as a laundry attendant. She obtained her home health certification in the 80's and worked private duty. Yvonne took pride in her work, but her best work was loving her family and embracing everyone she met.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Yvonne Clair (Gardner) Patrick, please visit our floral store.