Patricia 'Pat' Fairchild

Patricia Velma “Pat” Fairchild passed away peacefully at home in Hancock, NH on October 1, 2013.

Born in Binghamton, NY on March 9, 1933 to Mary Hermina Janac and James Rigney, Pat spent much of her early childhood with her beloved Slovak grandmother and grandfather, Florence “Mammy” and John “Poppy” Janac. When Pat was eight, Pat’s mother married Raymond Stein. Pat worked at her stepfather's soda fountain, Ray's Soda Bar, in Marathon, NY, and graduated from Marathon Central High School in 1950.

She earned her RN degree from the School of Nursing at Binghamton General Hospital in 1953 and practiced nursing as at Cortland Memorial Hospital until her marriage to Robert E. “Bob” Fairchild in 1957. Pat and Bob lived in Troy NY and New Britain, CT, and eventually settled in Collinsville, CT where they raised three children, Jane, Bobby and Annie as well as Spooky the Labrador and Zoomer the cat.

In 1970, Pat went back to working as a nurse at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT to help pay for her children’s braces and to help put them through college. In 1976, she became the Head Nurse of the Recovery Room at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT. She is also a past president of the Connecticut Association of Recovery Room Nurses.

In 1995, Pat and Bob moved to Hancock, New Hampshire where they embraced the community, and enjoyed the company of their beloved Bull Mastiffs, Victoria and Guinevere. There Pat was active in many civic organizations including: Hancock Woman’s Club, Peterborough Garden Club, Hancock Historical Society, Cindy’s Knitters, Monadnock Community Hospital Auxiliary, an active ping pong group, and others. She provided the remarkable window boxes at the Hancock Post Office and decorated the bandstand during the holidays. Words cannot express how much Pat enjoyed being part of Hancock and all the wonderful neighbors and friends who made her community so special.

In the spring of 2011 Pat was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After surgery and 2 ½ years of chemotherapy, Pat decided to enter in-home hospice care. Her family would like to thank everyone in Hancock for their unwavering support during Pat's struggle with cancer. The outpouring of love has been amazing and very much appreciated. In addition, the family would like to thank the staff of the Oncology Department at Monadnock Community Hospital and at Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services for their extraordinary compassion.

Pat is survived by her husband of 56 years; her children: Jane Fairchild of Seattle, WA, Robert J. “Bobby” Fairchild (Jan Pearce) of Berea, KY, and Annie Fairchild of Seattle, WA; her grandson, Lukas Fairchild of Seattle; her sisters: Karen Hammonds of Richmond VA and Nancy Stein of Binghamton, NY, and her former daughter-in-law Kathleen Hogan.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the First Congregational Church of Hancock, 47 Main St, Hancock, NH 03449.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Hancock Woman’s Club Scholarship Award, P.O. Box 366, Hancock, NH 03449 Hancock Historical Society, 7 Main St, Hancock, NH 03449 or Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.