Patricia Ann Kotwicki

Patricia Ann Kotwicki passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 31 at 1:00 am. What can we say about Mom? A woman who took her MS in stride. She never complained about it and it took everything away from her in the end. She was Born in Stephenville, Texas, October 28, 1940 to Vera and Marvin "Tex" Elkins into a family of three girls. Her sister Linda was born seven years later, her sister Deloris was born five years before. Grandma would always call Mom Patricia while the rest of the family called her Pat. They moved to Inglewood due to Grandpa getting a job with Boeing Airlines when Mom was a baby, then to Redondo Beach, California. When she was a teenager, Mom said that when school would end for the summer her Mom would say "Now don't think you're just going to spend all day at the beach!" Grandma was a very serious person. After all, she would have to clean the house for goodness sake! Mom and Dad married Aug 16,1958. They enjoyed playing pinochle with Grandpa and Grandma. Her oldest daughter, Terri, was born 1959, her second child, Steve, was born in 1961. Mom was diagnosed with MS when she was twenty-two and was able to drive up until she was sixty-nine and walk without assistance until 1990. She had a long fight with MS the last five years and lived in board and care from December 24, 2019 to May 31, 2023. Her biggest joy in life was being a Grandma to Brittney and Sam. To say she will be missed is an understatement! She also loved sewing, reading, laying by the pool, solving crossword puzzles and working jigsaw puzzles. There was always one in progress! She also enjoyed reading books about families. She would resort to listening to audiobooks when she couldn't manage turning the pages anymore.

Dad was in Construction which is why we landed in San Jose, California. from Washington State where they had parties for every occasion. The parties were fun! Dancing, playing pool and lots of great food. Always chips and onion dip. The parties would always start with the song Wooly Bully. When moving to Cal., Mom told Dad "I want a house on a corner lot and it needs a pool". Mom didn't swim, but she loved getting a tan and we used the heck out of it! We swam morning to night seven days a week! Mom and Dad owned racehorses and one of the biggest thrill for us was the day we went to the winners circle 3x's in one day because all three horses won. Her biggest win at the race track was $35,000.00 by winning the Pick Six at Bay Meadows. She was a good cook and she taught us all how to be organized and keep a clean house. She was a stylish lady and worked as a hairdresser from 1969 -1994 owning a hair salon for part of the time until her joy in life was born and she retired to take care of Brittney. She enjoyed time with Sam until his mom took him to live out of the area when he was around two. Brittney and Grandma were great buddies up to the end; enjoying anything as long as they were together. One of the things they did was go to Marie Callender's for potato cheese soup. They baked, made art projects, repeatedly watched the Wizard of Oz, and home movies which Brittney would say "I want to watch the Brittney tapes! " Mom loved food right up to the end. Terri will miss bringing her Decaf mocha frappuccinos from Starbucks and going out to lunch. There will surely be moments held dear by everyone. We are very grateful to Vitas Hospice, Beck Care home and Abi, Tess and Donna. Also Lynn before Tess who I know didn't just care for Mom they loved her. Before Beck neighbors Della and Jerry took care of mom as well as Steve. Thank you so much!! Mom lived as well as she could for as long as she could. We will miss you Mom, Grandma!

She is survived by her sister Linda and spouse Ernie; her children, daughter Terri and husband Kurt; son Steven; granddaughter Brittney and husband Cody; grandson Sam and wife Emily; great granddaughter Leilani and Aurora.

Service will be held on July 30 by invitation only at Westgate church 6601 Camden Ave. 2:00pm. If you would like to attend please contact the family. If you would like to make a donation of any amount please make it to the MS Society.