The Beautiful Life of Mary Patti

For most of her life, Mary Patti lived and worked in New York City. She loved the vibrant, energetic nature of city life. In many ways, Mary’s personality mirrored that of the city. She laughed easily and often and was always game for an adventure. To know Mary, was to love her for her kindness that had no end.

In her later years, Mary moved to Dillsburg to live with her daughter Maria. In February of 2022, Mary began receiving care from Homeland Hospice, a hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania. In November, her final days were filled with peace when she passed away at the age of 95, surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born in 1927 in Manhattan. Her parents were immigrants from Italy who lived in an apartment close to their relatives. Family was everything to her. She married Antonio, her husband of 65 years, and raised her children in the same apartment building as her parents. This way of life gave Maria and her sister a wonderful childhood filled with family dinners, conversations and laughter. Once Maria and her sister entered school, Mary got a job as a clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

“My mom was a city girl, all the way,” Maria says. “She loved to travel and try her luck at the casinos.”

Antonio died in 2013. Several years later, when the demands of city life began to take their toll, Mary transitioned to country living in Dillsburg with Maria. She slowly adjusted to a calmer pace in life and found comfort watching the wildlife and playing with Maria’s dog.

Over the years, Mary developed heart issues. By the middle of 2021, trips to a doctor’s appointment would often cause her to pass out. During a doctor’s appointment in early 2022, Mary learned her heart issues were critical and she needed hospice care. Maria was momentarily at a loss when the attending nurse introduced her to Dr. Binder (Assistant Medical Director) who connected Maria to Homeland Hospice. Within days, Maria’s home was filled with the necessary equipment to care for her mother and the Homeland team was in action to provide care for Mary and support Maria as her mother’s primary caregiver.

“The Homeland team was outstanding,” Maria says. “They treated my mom like family.”

Homeland Hospice helps patients live as fully and comfortably as possible by providing symptom and pain relief, care services, therapies and spiritual support. Homeland also provides an in-home relief program to families. This includes 32 hours each month of support for caregivers to attend to their own needs.

The in-home relief was a lifesaver for Maria. It gave her time to run errands and care for herself.

“I knew my mom was receiving excellent care when I wasn’t there,” Maria adds. “I would often come home to the sound of laughter.”

About a week before Mary died, Maria spoke with the Homeland team about the symptoms Mary was experiencing. They walked her through the end-of-life process to prepare her for her mother’s death. Maria called on the team many times during her mother’s final week. The Homeland Hospice team was there immediately with calls or visits.

“I felt supported and cared for by everyone,” Maria says. “I never felt alone.”

Several days before she died, Mary asked for her purse and told Maria she was ready to go home.

“I told my mom she was home,” Maria says. “She said no. I want to go home.”

With these few words, Maria knew her mother was ready to let go of this life. She died peacefully a few days later. Maria called her Homeland nurse who arrived immediately and handled the arrangements with the funeral home. This allowed Maria time to grieve and process the life-changing circumstances of her mother’s death.

“Every minute of my experience with Homeland brought me and my mother comfort,” Maria says. “I could fill a book with praises about their kindness. We were blessed to have them in our lives.”

For more information about Homeland Hospice, call (717) 221-7890.