Patricia Jeanne O'Mara's Obituary
Obituary for Patricia Jeanne Griswold O'Mara
1928 - 2010
Patricia Jeanne O'Mara of St. Helens, Oregon passed away on September 16, 2010 after a long battle with Alzheimer's at the age of 82.
She was born in Portland, Oregon, January 29, 1928, to Thomas G. and Evelyn G. Griswold and grew up in the Portland area. She traveled a lot as a child and learned to read before the age of 5 with road maps and street signs. During her high school years, she spent the winters snow skiing and the summers waterskiing. After graduating high school, she married James Rives Ripka in 1947 in Lake Oswego, Oregon and had three children: Christine, Patrick, Robin. Shortly thereafter they moved to Orange, California and had another daughter, Jan. They moved back to Oregon in 1960. She divorced James and then remarried in 1963.
Pat enjoyed many activities in life. Her favorite pastime was reading and could have 5 books going at one time. She loved reading, camping, fishing, traveling, her friends and always a good joke, but her real joy was spending time with her family. She was also an avid collector of clowns over the last 35 year.
Pat is survived by her children Robin Ripka and Jan Greenhalgh, her grandchildren Brett Greenhalgh, Brian Greenhalgh, Shayla Beveridge, Amy Coburn, Nonnie Martin, Carl Ripka, Kevin Ripka, Kyle Ripka, Jamie Ripka, Ben Ripka and April, along with 16 great grandchildren: Tristen, Mya, Chase, Brandon, Kara, Camika, Ethan, Ashley, Sterling, Lilly, McKenzie, Kennedy, Zachery, Nicholas, Jessie, Dustin. and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Patricia was preceded in death by her husband James, son Patrick, daughter Christine, sisters Lorraine, Dorothy, Maxine and brothers Herb and Harlan, grandson Brandon Greenhalgh and great grandson Brandon.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 2:00 pm at the Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens with a reception to follow.
Flower arrangements by Flowers 4 U.
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