Patricia A. (Martell) Childress, age 82, died Monday, February 6, at her home after a period of declining health.
Patty was born in Somerville on September 28, 1940, the first-born daughter of the late Harry and Olive (Lannon) Martell and was a longtime resident of Billerica and a graduate of Billerica Memorial High School class of 1959.
From the time she was a child, Patty was always devoted to her family, and put the needs of those she loved before her own. To assist her parents, she took over household cooking duties at a young age (and became a great cook) and took a year off from High School to help raise her baby sister Susan, who would grow up to become her closest and dearest friend throughout her life.
Patty always had a sense of adventure and an independent spirit. After graduating high school, she looked for excitement and opportunity beyond the rural suburbs, so she hopped on the commuter rail and took a job in downtown Boston as a switchboard operator—much to her mother’s surprise and chagrin. Patty looked back fondly on those youthful days of commuting, working, and shopping downtown—all while dressing stylishly of course.
Patty loved to travel, and after marrying she had the opportunity to live overseas in Germany (where her daughter Susan was born), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well in North Carolina and Texas (where her son Ivan was born).
While married, Patty was a full-time homemaker. After divorce, she re-entered the workforce and had a few different careers, but especially treasured her time working as a special education teacher in the Billerica school system. After health issues led to an early retirement, she spent many years as a volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, assisting and comforting cancer patients as they received chemotherapy. As well as, teaching a babysitter’s course to young adolescents. She was loved by all at St. Joe’s and received the “Volunteer of the Year” award in recognition of the positive impact she made on the lives of patients and colleagues.
In her spare time, Patty was a voracious reader and loved mystery novels most of all. She was known to read and re-read entire library collections. She also loved to play along with the TV show Jeopardy and even tried out for a chance to be on the show, successfully making it through multiple rounds of testing and auditions before missing the final cut.
Though tiny in stature, Patty was a strong person who endured many difficult challenges in her life. At the age of 24, she survived a devastating car accident that broke almost every bone in her body and took the life of her unborn son. She spent over 9 months in the ICU but persevered and recovered, though she would carry the lingering physical and emotional pain from this tragic event with her for the rest of her life.
Even after all the challenges that life threw at her, Patty never lost her playful and youthful spirit, sense of humor, or warmth. She always remained young in her heart, and especially loved spending time and playing with her grandchildren and nieces/nephews. Those fortunate enough to know her as Auntie or Nina will always treasure the special relationship she built with them, and the unconditional love she gave.
Patty will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and the pure and selfless love she so generously gave to her family and friends.
To know her was to love her.
She is survived by her son Ivan Childress and his wife Julie of Lynnfield; daughter Susan Taylor and her husband Jeff of Hudson NH; sister Susan Olson and her husband Michael of Billerica, as well as seven grandchildren (Danielle, Rebecca, Shelby, Robert, Rachael, Samuel, Grace) four great-grandchildren (Michael, Penelope, Kaiden, Wynter) and seven Nieces and Nephews (Christopher M., Craig, Melissa, Michael, Lauren, Eric, Christopher O.)
A Celebration of Patty’s life will be held, for family and friends, at Café Escadrille in Burlington, on Sunday 4/2 from 11-1.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Joseph Hospital’s Oncology/Cancer Center. https://stjosephhospital.com/support-st-joseph/make-a-gift-today/
Previous Events
Celebration of Life
2
Apr
26 Cambridge St.
Burlington, MA 01803
