I have not been able to stop thinking about all the years I have spent with Aunt and how she influenced my life in so many ways. One area she definitely influenced me with was fashion...lol...not only did she knit me many sweaters over the years, she also made me one of my favorite things from my twenties. My Fox Tail Scarf, she had a old winter dress coat that had a Fox Tail Collar. One year for my birthday she made the collar into a scarf for me. She bought me a 3/4 length leather trench coat and a leather chapeau to go with it. Another memory that came to me, was when I landed my first big professional job, she took me out and bought me a custom three piece suit for my first day. Later that December my firm held a formal Christmas party, Aunt surprised me and got me an Italian Suit, full length cashmere overcoat, and a Stetson fedora. I was the best dressed guy at the party. So many fond memories of the very special things she did for me just because she liked to make me feel that I was a unique and special person, especially to her. Much love Auntie I will never forget to dress for the person I want to become.

Aunt loved to take trips especially with me and her grandkids. I found this old gem from our trip to Hershey Park. This is me in the front right, her granddaughter Tina in the front left, and her twin granddaughters Lisa & Lynda in the back. We sure did have a lot of fun with auntie and I would never have got to see as many wonderful places our amazing country has to offer if it wasn't for my Aunt.

One thing Aunt and I shared a passion for was music, when we lived to together before she had to go into the nursing home, she told me over and over how much she enjoyed the music I would play getting ready for my Disc Jockey Gigs. So I thought it to be fitting to create a special Aunt Marie's Memorial Soundtrack. Here is a link to listen to it if anyone is interested.

https://radio.streemlion.com:2870/api/links/?t=web&l=mariepato&c=1

Here Is A Link To The Track List With Full Song Lyrics

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEkZkb8WWbcL_lLxmLZDLclf5q02Lq62/view?usp=sharing

Aunt Marie and her late husband Andy built four cabins on the shores of Echo Lake in Charleston Vermont located in Vermont's beautiful North East Kingdom. They named this vacation spot White Birch Lodge. The four cabins are still there today in there original condition and White Birch Lodge is still hosting visitors to it's natural surrounding beauty and personal family atmosphere that The Pato's created so many years ago. Aunt always told me stories of when the family would come visit and the fishing parties and winter fun outdoors. She was so fond of her time spent there and cherished the memories her and her husband made there. I am so glad there legacy is still living on. Here is a little video of the cabins and Echo Lake.

Aunt was a no nonsense person either she liked you or she didn’t and either or you knew how she felt about you.
She absolutely adored Kevin F. Wiley, who I proudly call one of my closest friends/ Brother. No matter where we were or what we were doing he made sure he was home n the morning to greet aunt. There was a special bond with Kevin and aunt. I am proud to have known this precious / compassionate woman in my lifetime. Rest In Peace aunt this world is a little sadder now that you are not in it. 

As anyone who knew Aunt Marie she has always been famous for her coleslaw. Here is her recipe for anyone who would like it.

1 Head of Cabbage finely shredded
4 Carrots finely shredded
1 Onion grated

Mix all the above ingredients and cover with salt. Let stand in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Squeeze all juices from the shredded vegetables. Mix 1 1/2 cups Hellman's mayonaise, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 1/8 cup white sugar together until sugar is dissolved. Add mixture to shredded vegetables and let marinate for a few hours.

There you go folks Aunt Marie's Famous Coleslaw, you can think of her at every holiday still while enjoying this classic.

I was born on February 7th, 1977 and Aunt Marie "simply Aunt" live in a apartment attached to my parents house. As aunt always put it "He was mine since he got home from the hospital" Since the day we met we were inseparable throughout her life. When I was just a toddler I would sneak out of my crib, crawl downstairs and across to aunts apartment and get into bed with her. We did everything together I was her shadow. My fondest memories if I had to choose would be:

On my 8th birthday she bought me my first computer, I spent hours while snowed in, in Vermont typing away on this thing teaching myself anything and everything I could find out about it. Anyhow this turned in a passion, then a career, without this opportunity she gave me I would never had my 21+ year career in the Information Technology field. Working for such companies a IBM, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Phillips Medical Systems, Unilever, Phillip Morris International, and The State Of Vermont. I was able to accomplish all this without a college degree all because this amazing lady saw a talent in me and provided me with the resources to peruse it.
Aunt and I always spent some break together and she always loved to take me traveling, we visited such places as Hershey Park, New York Wine Country, Philadelphia, The Jersey Show, and Walt Disney World. I will cherish these memories forever. 
When I turned 16 it was time to learn to drive and Aunt was very excited to be my teacher. I was living with her in Bridgeport CT at the time and Aunt worked and I went to School in Newtown CT which is a 25 mile ride. She insisted I drive both ways of our commute in CT rush hour traffic, this was very scary at first and I was extremely nervous, Aunt was cool as a cucumber not once yelling at me just gently correcting me and complimenting me when I did good. I could not have asked for a better teacher and to this day no matter what the situation I find myself in on the road I am able to remain calm and work through it. She was so proud when I finally got my Driver's License that she bought me my first car a 1984 Buick LeSabre.
When I finally completed high school and graduated Aunt moved me from Vermont to her house in Trumbull CT. Because of this I used my carpentry, electrical, and plumbing skills I learned from my dad, as I remodeled the house from the ground up and built and apartment on one side for myself.

I know I am no Angel and have made way more bad decisions than good ones over the years and have gotten myself in trouble numerous times that has always come back to haunt me. But over the years "Aunt" is the only person who has never looked down on me or treated me as though I was broken. She never made me feel that I was no good She never constantly reminded of my failures, or looked at me like I couldn't be trusted. She supported me no matter what and I always felt like I had someone on my side. Instead of just pointing out my problems and failures she would help me find solutions to them. She was my rock of comfort throughout my life, she could always make me feel better no matter what the situation was.

This truly amazingly caring, generous, and compassionate soul will be missed every minute or every day until I no longer have breath in these lungs.


Love you Auntie Always Have Always Will
Kevin