Patricia “Patty” L. Buck, 88, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Country Meadows in Bethlehem.
She was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, daughter of the late Ernest and Nora “Susie” (Doles) Polick. She was the wife of the late William “Bill” Buck.
Patty and Bill raised six children while living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Bethlehem. Patty demonstrated an unflagging devotion to her family in simple gestures of love every day. She listened well but seldom advised, believing in the capacity of her children to find their unique pathways through life and supporting them strongly as they did so. She shared her appreciation of God’s creation and love by pointing out the beauty of light filtering through fall leaves, the wispiness of clouds on a spring morning, or the colors in a glorious summer sunset.
Patty had a special heart for her grandchildren and rarely visited them without bearing small treasures plucked from a thrift shop, a coupon for a free McDonald’s ice cream cone, or a well-worn and forgotten toy from her children’s long-ago past, lovingly cleaned and offered new to their own children.
She loved to travel and camp with her family, visiting the United States West and Midwest areas, Europe and Alaska. She fell in love with Paris on her first visit and returned countless times over the years to experience anew its rich culture, history, and beauty with family who accompanied her.
Patty’s passion for reading spawned a similar love among her children and grandchildren who observed her absorbed in books she was seldom without, toted in her purse for opportune moments of pleasure throughout her day. Patty was a woman who truly celebrated life every day.
She will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Kenneth Buck and wife Dawn of Bethlehem, Michael Buck and wife Karen of Bethlehem, William “Chip” Buck and wife Karen of Emmaus, Pennsylvania; daughters, Rebecca Jankowski and husband Theodore of Kapaau, Hawaii, Ada Simmons and husband Thomas of Bloomington, Indiana, and Pamela Blatcher and husband Frank of West Chester, Pennsylvania; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and a sister-in-law, Katherine J. Buck of Springfield, Virginia.
A family graveside service was scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 at Providence Baptist Church in Gloucester, with visitation beforehand at the church from 2-3 o’clock. A celebration of life service open to all is also scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 5900 Old Bethlehem Pike, Center Valley, Pa. Send online condolences to www. connellfuneral.com