Patricia H. Hallenbeck

PATRICIA H. HALLENBECK

As Spring tried to break into the warm weather she enjoyed, Pat was finally overcome by the declining health that progressively made it difficult for her to deal with basic daily tasks. With the wonderful help of VNA Care New England we were able to keep Patricia at home in her own bed. She received love and wonderful care from a number of folks with family very much in the picture: Noel Robinson offered a closing prayer service 48 hours ahead of her passing, at which Pat was clearly responsive.

Patricia drew great strength from loving friends especially in the church community. Her role in teaching began early. After graduating from Occidental College in Los Angeles, Pat spent four years teaching Elementary School youngsters. This was interrupted by marriage to Ted Hallenbeck, an Occidental Senior, and moving east to New York City and later to New Brunswick, New Jersey. Motherhood and family life predominated Pat’s time although she continued her music life singing in church choir.

Following Elizabeth’s arrival in 1951, Bill came along in 1953 and family life became busier, as Ted continued his junior faculty role at Rutgers and graduate studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. A full resident year in New York was busy with Patricia singing in the Riverside Church Choir with Virgil Fox, a wonderful music experience. As this year wound down we moved to Rhode Island where Ted became Director of the Commission on Higher Education and Pat joined the new Rhode Island Civic Chorale where she continued for several years, becoming its President at one point. Singing great music with much enjoyment. This was interrupted, briefly, by the arrival of Malissa in 1958.

While her music skills continued her interest in teaching began again. First at the Edgewood Congregational Church and later at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Greenwich, which became the family church home. She taught class, directed the Sunday School program and assisted in special events. Patricia’s skills in education moved to the Diocese of Rhode Island where she served on the Board of the School for Ministry and later became its Director. During the 1970’s she felt a need for strengthening her church educational background. Pat enrolled in Providence College Graduate program in Theology, completing a Master of Arts degree in 1977, further enhancing her capability to work in the church community. She organized Diocesan educational programs and events and consulted with Parishes in organizing and strengthening parish programs.

When the Diocese organized a School for Deacons, Pat was invited to join the Faculty and asked to teach New Testament, which she greatly enjoyed and did skillfully. When Pat taught at the School for Ministry, husband Ted enrolled. After surviving three years in Pat’s classroom, Ted was ordained a Deacon in 1985. Both continued teaching in the School for a number of years with great skill and joy. Many Deacons have expressed appreciation and enjoyment from Pat’s classroom. Following the closing of the School for Ministry by a new Bishop, Pat enjoyed working in the Diocesan Bookstore until it too was closed.

Following very active years, along with aging, Patricia focused more on home life and St. Luke’s. As age caught up with her, Pat’s life moved into a long stretch of Alzheimer’s disease which slowly robbed her more and more of active current memory. This eventually ended her ability to cope with the tasks of everyday life. All of us in the family give thanks for her life and her love for us. As we miss her, we know she was ready to move on and leave her worn out body. We wish her peace.

A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated on Friday June 13th at 11:00 am at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 99 Peirce St., East Greenwich. Burial will be in St. Luke’s Columbarium. In lieu of flowers donations in her name may be made to Episcopal Charities of RI, 275 North Main St., Providence, RI 02903 www.episcopalri.org