Patricia Frank

Patricia "Pat" Eileen Walsh Frank, age 81, of the Four Corners area and most recently of Wickenburg, Arizona passed away in the early morning hours of January 26th, 2023, after a battle with cancer.Pat is survived by her fiance Arnold Alderman, her three adult children Daniel, Scott, and Julie, from her former spouse, the late Ronald L. Frank (d. 2021), and one grandson. Born in 1941 in Hudson, New York, Pat had a lifelong passion for learning. After high school, she completed the nursing program at the Albany Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated with an award for Outstanding Student Nurse and was first runner-up for New York State Student Nurse. Pat loved working as a nurse, and after moving to Montana with her young family in the early 1970s, she continued nursing, studied theater, took private pilot lessons, was a Sunday school teacher, was a member of the American Junior League, was a docent for the Western Heritage Center in Billings, MT, was Vice President of the Billings Women's Symphony and served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for her two sons.After the family returned to New York, Pat entered into undergraduate and graduate studies; receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in History from SUNY/Buffalo. Upon graduation from the master's program, she received a live goat, fondly named Daffodil, as a gift from her friends to mark the achievement. Patricia then worked on a Ph.D. in Philosophy focusing on medical ethics, Eastern philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, and feminist philosophy.Pat's professional work continued to grow from her initial career as a registered nurse in orthopedic surgery to include training and supervisory roles at hospitals. She served as a member of the Buffalo Mercy Hospital Medical Ethics Committee, developed & led a community outreach program for the Osteoporosis Center of Western New York, and started teaching Medical Ethics at SUNY/Buffalo. She engaged in substitute teaching at local high schools and later served as an adjunct philosophy professor at a college in Florida. Pat's love of the mountains brought her to Colorado, to also be closer to her daughter, and where late in her career she returned to nursing. She eventually retired from nursing in 2015.Pat was raised Catholic and attended Lutheran and Disciples of Christ churches as an adult and served in leadership as a Deacon. Through her study of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, Pat came to prefer non-denominational services and spirituality. Her spiritual journey, blended with her medical background, led her to become a certified Reiki master, a spiritual consultant, and a medical intuitive. Pat was adventurous. She lived in several different states during her life. She loved sunny places and being on the water with her sailboat. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family, as well as solo ventures with her pets traveling in her truck and camper. As an animal lover, Pat was never without a furry companion. She rescued dogs, cats, a squirrel, and even a couple of baby raccoons at one point. Her dearest companions were her dogs. Pat was an active member and sponsor of Alcoholics Anonymous. Her recovery and involvement in AA significantly defined her life and her spiritual pathway since joining in 1992. Pat leveraged her own difficult struggle with addiction to help others find spiritual strength and peace to navigate their addiction. She was an advocate for alcoholism awareness and celebrated over 30 years of sobriety. A Celebration of Life will be held in Wickenburg, Arizona Sunday, February 19th, 2023 at the Clubhouse at My Father's Retirement Ranch 400 N. Jefferson St. from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Likewise, a gathering in Durango, CO will be held at a future day and time. The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Lake Pleasant Care in Peoria, AZ for their amazing care of Patricia and the numerous home health providers and hospital teams who cared for her.Pat was a philanthropist giving to many organizations over the years. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to her preferred charities:Maryknoll Sisters, 10 Pinesbridge Road, Ossining, NY 10562 St. Labre's Indian School, Ashland, MT 59004Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Charity, Mercy Center, 625 Abbott Road, Buffalo, NY 14220General Service Office, PO Box 2407, James A. Farley Station, New York, NY 10116-2407 (AA)



Published by The Durango Herald on Feb. 1, 2023.