Obituary for Mrs. Patricia M. “Patty” (Summa) Diven NORTH UTICA – Mrs. Patricia M. “Patty” (Summa) Diven, age 84, joined her husband and her daughter on Thursday, June 21, 2018 when she passed away at the Abraham House with her family by her side. Born in Utica on October 11, 1933, Patricia was the daughter of the late Carmen and Philomena “Anna” (Cuda) Summa. She also knew the love and guidance of her second mother, Elena (Orsine) Summa.
She was a graduate of T.R. Proctor High School/Class of 1951 and continued her education at the Child’s Hospital in Albany where she earned her credentials as an LPN. On May 25, 1957 she married Leslie E. “Les” Diven with whom she shared 57 years prior to his passing on September 11, 2014. They shared a faithful union, and family was their first and foremost concern.
Patty worked in the nursing profession for 32 years. She tended to her patients and work responsibilities with great compassion and dedication. Shortly after, she began caring for children at the Magic Penny Nursery School on Higby Road, a vocation she immensely enjoyed.
She then found an additional way to serve the community, at the Thea Bowman House, where she served nutritious meals to the children and developed many friendships with them. They affectionately addressed her as “Miss Pat”, and she felt blessed to bond with them. Pat personified the humble attributes of a Christian life.
She was selfless, sacrificing, and strived to sustain faith, hope, and charity in her heart. As a matriarch, Patty was a wonderful mother, and in return, her children were respectfully very attentive to her needs and desires until the very last day of her life. She began volunteering at the Good News Foundation, where she devoted much of her time to numerous projects because she appreciated the foundation’s mission of “Helping families.
Touching lives” that it offered to our community. For many years, she and her husband volunteered at the Boilermaker Road Race during the pre-computer era to register participants. She was a parishioner of St. Mark’s Church, faithfully attended Mass, taught Religious Education Classes, and served as a Lector and a Eucharistic Minister.
Gracious and welcoming by nature, She was very involved in the parish community and activities. She helped initiate a weekly Wednesday night Rosary Group at Carm Ziobro’s house for over thirty years. She was a member of the “ABC” support group since its inception when it was founded by Karen Christensen.
Above all else, Patty lived a beautiful Christian life. Patricia is survived by her daughters, Shirley A. Diven, and Barbara Diven. She always carried in her heart the memory of her daughter, Carolynn Diven, who passed away just over 7 months ago on November 14, 2017.
The family takes comfort in knowing that she can see her again. She was also blessed with the love of her “additional daughter”, Sandra Stewart and “Ani”. She also leaves her brother and sister-in-law, Rocco and Eleanor Summa; her nephew, Brian Summa; cousins, Rosemary (Cuda) Stedman, Mickey (Cuda) Dorfer, and Fredrick Cuda; her faithful friend, Sr. Maureen Denn/CSJ; her lifelong friends, Angela and Fran Pfisterer; and special friends, Joyce, Jane, Carol, and Mary Ellen.
She was predeceased by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leslie E. Sr. and Mildred Diven. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2:00-5:00 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Patricia’s funeral service and Celebration of Life which will commence on Monday morning at 11:00 at St. Mark’s Church, 440 Keyes Rd.
, North Utica, where her Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Rev. Mark Pasik. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of donations may be made to the Abraham House theabrahamhouse.org, the Good News Foundation thegoodnewscenter.org, or Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. hospicecareinc.org; envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.
Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Patricia M. “Patty” (Summa) Diven please visit our Sympathy Store.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
