Pandemic Heroes | Pat Jackson

Posted July 02, 2021

Today we honor Patricia Jackson, our Pandemic Hero in Heaven.

After a long battle against cancer, Patricia—or Pat—joined her Heavenly Father on June 23, 2021.

"She is truly a pandemic hero because despite her health challenges she worked throughout 2020 and 2021 to ensure that our senior program clients remain engaged," said Autumn Winfield, director of St. Philip Neri Family Center. Pat served as Program Assistant for the Employment & Training Program at the center.

During the pandemic, Pat wanted to make sure the seniors—who could no longer visit the center due to COVID-19 safety restrictions—did not experience isolation. She made sure they received updated communication, care packages, vaccines and even Mother's Day gifts.

"She [...] cared for her seniors like they were her own family," stated her obituary.

Pat also coordinated the 2020 Christmas Giveaway, seeking out donations in order to purchase gifts for children in need.

"Her work ethic was proven by her working as hard as always even while she was sick until the week before her final admittance into the hospital," the obituary stated.

Pat's faith was also an important part of her life.

"Everyone who knew her knew that Pat absolutely loved the Lord," the obituary continued. "Even in her final days, her greatest desire was to witness to those who did not know the Lord, to pray boldly for those in need and to make sure forgiveness was extended to anyone she needed to forgive."

Autumn stated that Pat will be sorely missed, but never forgotten. She concluded by sharing one of Pat's quotes: "But one thing I do is staying on the path with faith, love, pressing forward towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus for the betterment of family and community."

To our Pandemic Hero in Heaven: we love you, miss you and will never forget all that you have done for Catholic Charities.