Patricia 'Pat' Sawtelle

Patricia A. Sawtelle, 83, of Jaffrey, passed away peacefully Monday evening, December 4, 2017 in the comfort of her own home after a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

She was born on January 3, 1934 in Pepperell, MA, the first daughter of Thomas and Sophie (Cutler) Tierney. Pat attended Pepperell High School with her mother, who had returned to school after having to leave school early to help at home. Pat graduated in 1952 and soon found herself waiting on tables at the Ark in Jaffrey, where she met the love of her life, Donald Sawtelle. They married in the fall of 1952 and began raising their family in Jaffrey where she has lived ever since.

Pat had worked briefly at the White Bros. Textile Mill in the center of Jaffrey before starting as a teller at the former Monadnock Bank. Pat worked at the bank for over 33 years in almost every role, including branch manager of the bank in Rindge. After becoming the very first woman bank officer when she became the Assistant Vice President of Monadnock Bank, she saw through the merger with CFX Bank, and retired in 1996.

Pat enjoyed serving on the Bicentennial Committee for the Town of Jaffrey and was a long-time member of the Conant Band Boosters. Pat was a big supporter of St. Patrick School sending all her children there and supporting it until it closed. Later in her life, Pat enjoyed the winters when she and Don travelled in their RV and took extended vacations with their friends in Florida. Pat had travelled throughout the US as well as Morocco, Iceland, England and Panama to visit their children stationed there, but loved the beaches in Florida and became quite good at shuffleboard.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, John Tierney, and by her first child who had died at birth.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Donald K. Sawtelle of Jaffrey; her daughters, Dawn (Bill) Oswalt and Kelly Sawtelle and husband Ron Belkin, both of Jaffrey; her sons, Steven (Kathleen) Sawtelle of Lander, Wyoming, William (Cindy) Sawtelle of Lineville, AL, Robert (Samantha) Sawtelle of Kathleen, GA and James (Ellen) Sawtelle of Stone Mountain, GA ; Jorge Morales who arrived as an exchange student from Mexico and has remained another son for Pat and Don; 18 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; her sisters, K. Wanda Makela of Greenville, NH and Judith Gillogly of Pepperell, MA; her brothers, Thomas Tierney of Forest Park, GA and Paul Tierney of Pepperell, MA; a beloved extended family and countless close friends.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Rte. 202) Jaffrey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 8, 2017, at 11:00 am, at Saint Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey, celebrated by Rev. Wilfred Deschamps, Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish. Burial will follow at Cutter Cemetery in Jaffrey.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Hoops for Hope, PO Box 314, Peterborough, NH 03458, or to Hospice at HCS, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.