SACO – Patricia “Patty” Lavin, age 82, passed away on November 6, 2026, at
Gosnell Memorial Hospice House surrounded by loving family, following many years of
vascular dementia.
Patty was born at home in Greenfield, Maine, on September 25, 1944, to the late Beatrice
(Gray) and Harland Heath. She was the oldest girl of 16 children, and from a very early age,
helped her mother to raise her siblings and manage the household. She married Gary
Patterson, Sr., when she was 16 and had 3 children of her own while living in Bucksport and
Stockton Springs. After Gary’s death in 1985, Patty met and married Charles Lavin, and
they lived in Stockton Springs until Charles’ death in 1996. Later she moved to Greenbush,
and in 2010 moved in with her daughter, Sally, in Casco and then Saco.
Patty spent many of her working years caring for children and the elderly, as well as
managing a convenience store and handling guest services at a hotel. In her spare time,
Patty enjoyed being creative, and was an expert at crocheting stuffed animals and doll
clothes. She also created handmade jewelry and a wide variety of crafts, including
Christmas wreaths and crosses for which she personally gathered evergreen boughs in the
deep woods around her home. Over the years, she attended many Christmas craft fairs
where she proudly sold her creations. Patty was also actively involved in The Sharing
Sleigh, a Christmas charity program, with her daughter, Sally, and her daughter-in-law,
Ellen, and beautifully wrapped hundreds of presents each year for people in need.
Patty is survived by her three children, Tammy Wardwell, Jr., and her husband Phil of
Gorham, Gary (Richard) Patterson, Jr., of St. Albans, and Sally Patterson and her wife Ellen
Phinney of Saco; seven sisters, Carole, Joyce, Marietta, Faline, Valerie, Lorelei, Crystal; and
one brother, Harley. She has four grandchildren, Chantelle, Sasha, Nathan, and Megan,
and five great-grandchildren. Patty was predeceased by seven siblings.
Patty had many treasured pets that predeceased her, including her Pomeranian, Bear, and
her cherished grand-doggies, Roxie, and Sugar and Spice, who lived with her in her final
years. Special thanks to Patty’s compassionate caregivers - Arlene, Clare, and Desiree -
who filled her life with music and smiles over the last year, and to the caring staff at Maine
Medical Center and Gosnell Memorial Hospice House who helped to ease her last days.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 12th, at 12 noon at the Chad E. Poitras
Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt.22), Buxton. Online
condolences can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Patty’s name to Best Friend’s
Animal Sanctuary, a favorite animal shelter of Patty’s, at www.bestfriends.org under ‘Make
a Memorial Donation’.