Patricia D (Dunne) Wright

Patrica (Dunne) Wright age 98, of Goshen entered into eternal rest peacefully with family by her side on February 25th, 2019.  She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Alfred H. “Bud” Wright, who died in 2002. Patricia will always be remembered for her dignity, integrity, love of family, warm sense of humor and her unwavering devotion to God and the Roman Catholic Church.  

Patricia was born May 11, 1920 in Unionville, one of nine children of the late Dr. Edward P. Dunne and the late Antoinette M. (Von Sudsberg) Dunne. She was raised in Unionville, graduated from Farmington High School and Hartford Secretarial School. Prior to her marriage, Patricia worked for both Unionville Electric Company and the Internal Revenue Service in Hartford. The Dunne Family has owned “Camp Kwitcherkickin”, a cottage at Tyler Lake in Goshen, since her youth and Pat has continued to spend time each summer there in the company of family and friends.

In 1945 Patricia married Alfred H. Wright, a lifelong resident of Goshen who operated the family dairy farm and lived in the homestead built by his ancestors in 1787 and still occupied by the Wright family.  After moving to Goshen and starting their family of four sons, Patricia became actively involved in the community.  She worked for many years at the Connecticut Junior Republic.  She was involved in the PTA, served as a member on the town’s Board of Assessors, participated in the Democratic Party.  Patricia was a communicant of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Goshen and a member of the Ladies Guild. She was actively involved in the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 46 for which she served as President for several years.  In 1993 Patricia was the recipient of the American Legion’s Town of Goshen Citizenship Award and also received the Secretary of State’s Good Citizenship Award.  Pat and Bud also enjoyed excursions in their Piper Cherokee 235 and their travels throughout the years to special destinations including Ireland, Alaska, the Bahamas, California and Barbados.
Pat drove herself to weekly social engagements or appointments well into her nineties, loved entertaining guests, enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing Words with Friends on her iPad, and weekend card games with loved ones.

Patricia’s fulfillment in life revolved around her many good friends and her family. She leaves four sons, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom were the pride of her life:  A. Edward Wright (Norma) of Goshen and Port St. Lucie, FL, his daughters Sara Wright (Scott Winn) and Elyse Denis (Jared), their mother Sandra Shuhi of Goshen; Peter Wright (Joy) of Palo Alto, California, their children Russell and Robyn, and his children Ian, Bridgit Herrick (Travis) and Melissa Wright and their mother Karen Rohr of Groton; Timothy D. Wright his wife Catherine (Kit) of Goshen and their children Michael (Krista) and Timothy (Rebecka); Christopher J. Wright and his wife Mandy of Goshen with whom Patricia resided at the family homestead, their children Genny (Ben) Fullerton, Adrienne Wright (Brad), Myra Wright,  Donald Wright and his fiancée Catherine Niech.  Patricia counted among her blessings her nine great- grandchildren: Cody Mack Wright, Annika and Piper Fullerton, Kinsley and Jayce Winn, Logan Wright, James Denis, Riley Wright and Braeden Wright.

Patricia also leaves her sister Kathleen Ruzbasan of Unionville; sister-in-law Eunice “Chip” Wright of Daly City, CA, brother-in-law and dear friend Willis Ocain of Falls Village and many beloved nieces, nephews and their families.  Patricia was predeceased by her brother, Edward P. Dunne, Jr.,  her sisters Anne Horvay (Paul), Rosalie Brennan (Bud), Mary Ocain, Bette Keenan (John) and twin sisters Margaret Louise and Rita Claire who died in infancy; Eugene Rohr and Joseph Ruzbasan; and Bud’s sisters and their husbands Ruth (Frank) Birmingham and Marjorie (Fredric) Wadhams.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patricia’s memory to the Dr. Edward P Dunne Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 625, Unionville, CT  06085 or Saint Thomas of Villanova Church, 71 North Street, P.O. Box 177, Goshen, CT  06756.
The family wishes to thank those who provided exquisite, respectful care to Patricia during her last few weeks, including Stephen Bryant, MD, the clinicians from Salisbury VNA and her personal caregivers Theresa, Terry and Ann.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas of Villanova, North Street, Goshen on Saturday, March 2nd  at  10:30AM.   Interment will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family.  Per Patricia’s wishes, there are no calling hours.  Please visit www.phalenfuneral.com

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