Patricia Eleanor Kucharsky

June 5, 1932 - June 16, 2026

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Patricia Kucharsky entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, following a brief illness in Ft Myers, Florida, at the age of 94. She had been a resident of Shell Point Retirement Community along with her husband Gene since 2010.

She was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Pat was the third of three children and the only daughter of John and Harriet (née Harvey) Patterson. After graduating from Central High School of Commerce and the completion of “Grade 13,” Pat left Canada and began studies at Nyack College in Nyack, NY, associated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) earning a degree in Christian Education. The following summer she lifeguarded at a girls camp in New Hampshire (Cathedral Pines) run by the New England Fellowship of Evangelicals (NEF). While there she became familiar with another branch of the organization that sent out itinerant Bible teachers to public schools in rural Maine. That Fall she embarked on this next adventure as a licensed instructor of “Moral and Religious Education.” NEF provided her with a car and she was hosted by families in the various communities. She would often relay stories of spending that winter in remote areas of Maine with virtual strangers, far from home, sharing gospel truths to youngsters.

The following year she accepted a position at a C&MA church in Pittsburgh, PA, as an Administrative Assistant to the pastor, Dr. Kenneth Fraser. It was there she met David E. Kucharsky (Gene), at an ice skating social. They married the following summer in August, 1957, returning to her hometown in Hamilton for the wedding. After honeymooning in New England the newlyweds remained in Pittsburgh for a year before moving to Arlington, Virginia, where Gene took a job as News Editor at the newly formed evangelical magazine, Christianity Today. Their many years together in Arlington ushered in a rich season of life as they welcomed four children, three daughters and a son. Living in close proximity to the Nation’s Capital afforded many unique experiences for the family, particularly as Gene covered major events both domestically and internationally. Pat was an amazing hostess to many visiting notable figures who came through their home over the years, as well as neighbors, church members, and visiting missionaries. She served in many roles in their local church, Arlington Memorial Church (C&MA), including as the church organist for several years and Director of Christian Education.

In the Fall of 1977, the family relocated to Westchester County, New York, when Gene took a job as the Editor of Christian Herald magazine. In the following years their nest emptied as one by one all four children attended Wheaton College. During those years Pat worked a variety of jobs in the area along with, once again, serving their church in the area of Christian Education on a volunteer basis. After a time, she was offered the job as Administrator at the Ridgeway Alliance Church in White Plains, NY, (oddly enough under Rev. Tom Fraser, the son of the pastor for whom she first worked in Pittsburgh!). She remained in that position for the subsequent pastor, Dr. Art Robertson, until retirement at which time she and Gene moved to Ft Myers, FL, and became residents of Shell Point Retirement Community (a ministry of the C&MA) in 2010.

Gene and Pat had visited Shell Point many times and already had numerous dear friends who were residents. In a number of cases Pat even reunited with Nyack classmates. It had been their desire all along to finish their ‘final stretch’ in this community. They quickly began their involvement at The Village Church—singing in the choir together, volunteering at the memory care unit, as well as attending the many special musical events. In time, as Gene developed memory issues, Pat transitioned her energies more towards caring for her beloved husband until his passing in February, 2025.

In addition to her husband Gene, Pat was preceded in death by her two brothers, Harvey K. Patterson and John E. Patterson.

She is survived by her four children; Brenda Proulx (Craig), Debbie Endean (Rick), Sandy Barton (Andrew), and David Kucharsky (Pari); ten grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.

A service in her honor will be held on Saturday, June 27th, at 2pm, in the Community Room of The Springs at Shell Point, 13901 Shell Point Plaza, Ft Myers, FL. All friends and family are welcome.