Obituary of Patricia L Coates

Patricia L. Coates, a wife, mother, and grandmother passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease on Tuesday afternoon, November 27, 2018.  She was 85 years old. Pat was born in Malden. She was one of six children born to John and Catherine Cronin.  She grew up in Malden and was a graduate of Malden High School.  During her high school years she started courting a young man named Richard Coates.  They were high school prom dates.  No long after, Richard asked her hand in marriage and they married in 1953.  Despite the disapproval of their parents due to the distance from Boston, they purchased a very modest home in Burlington in 1956.  At the time, it was several thousand dollars more for a second floor and the young newlyweds just couldn’t afford.  Over the years, they put on an addition and Richard built his own garage.  They had a wonderful marriage, four children, Richard worked at Itek then later at Polaroid, and Pat remained home managing the household.  In 1979, Richard passed away at the age of 49.  Pat’s world had changed drastically.  She needed to go back to work and still tend to her family’s needs.  She took a position at American Mutual Insurance as a claims processor.  She enjoyed her work and her coworkers and retired after almost 20 years with the company.

Pat always enjoyed vacations and seeing the world.  When her children were young, there were beach vacations on Cape Cod.  As her family got older, she spread her wings more.  One memorable vacation was when the family rented a RV and took a road trip to Niagara Falls.  The trips got better overtime.  She took trips to see many of the National Parks in the United States.  She visited Ireland, toured Europe, Bermuda, and Alaska.  She also took numerous cruises as well.  Often her travel buddies were her daughter, Claire, her sister Katherine and sister-in-law, Arlene.  Pat was a member of a number of bowling leagues over the years with one team called “The Lollipop Girls”. She was a member of the St. Malachy’s Church’s “Morgair’s” and helped on the church bazaars.  Days with her grandchildren were spent at the pool, bowling, playing tennis, afternoon lunches at fun restaurants like “Johnny Rockets”, and countless other fun locations and activities.  She was so happy to see them grow to become responsible young adults.  Pat was one to make sound and rational decisions.  After 48 years in her home in Burlington and it getting harder to maintain, she opted to move to an apartment in Woburn.  She met new neighbors, walked regularly, attended St. Barbara’s Church, and remained independent until the effects of her Alzheimer’s Disease took that all away.

Pat was the beloved wife of the late Richard P.  Coates. She was the loving mother of Nancy Vigneau & her husband David of Billerica, Thomas of Lowell, Peter & his wife Lisa of Grafton and Claire Cassidy & her husband David of Chelmsford.   She was the proud grandmother of Danielle Vigneau, Matthew, Mark, Jeffrey & Christopher Cassidy, Sean & Brendan Coates and the late David Vigneau.  She was predeceased by her siblings; John Cronin, Mary Connors, Barbara LaRochelle, Katherine Casey and Claire Boland.  She was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Friday, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m.  Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m.  Burial to follow in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.  Visiting hours at the Funeral Home on Thursday from 4-8 p.m.  Memorials in Patricia’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452   www.alz.org