Obituary of Patricia A. Zeiser
Patricia Ann (Woods) Zeiser, 71, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend to all, passed away peacefully on July 17th, 2024, surrounded by her incredibly attractive and intelligent family. A warm, loving, and spiritual person, every stranger she met left as a friend.
Born and raised in Glen Rock, New Jersey, Pat was the mascot for Glen Rock High (Go Panthers!). She moved to Yardley in 1987 with her cherished husband of 49 years, Don. A graduate of Villanova University (Go Wildcats!), she used her Bachelor of Science in Nursing to devote her life in service to others.
A dedicated psychiatric nurse for over 50 years, Pat spent the majority of her career at Capital Health’s Emergency Mental Health Services as well as Catholic Charities of Trenton’s Outpatient Psychiatric Unit. With care and patience, she took great pleasure in caring for “God’s little angels”. She was a constant advocate for individuals with mental illnesses and was a regular pharmaceutical consultant for various psychiatric medications.
Even in her retirement Pat continued to focus on helping those in need. She volunteered for Advocates for Homeless and Those in Need (AHTN), an organization which provides shelter, meals, and assistance to the underserved in Lower Bucks County. She also took calls on the warm line for National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) of Bucks County, spending hours talking to individuals in need of comfort and support.
Above all, Pat’s greatest joy was her family. Her husband Don, whom she met at Villanova, was the love of her life and other half. The perfect pair, Pat would walk through the house making a mess and Don would follow behind her with a Swiffer and paper towel sprayed with Glass Plus. Her passion for travel took them, hand in hand, around the world together.
Her children, Adam and Abbey, were her absolute pride and joy. She was their biggest fan and forever best friend. Every phone call, hug, and text ended with her classic, “Love ya, weirdo!” or “See ya later, Alligator!”. Their humor, strength, and love of reading is a direct reflection of her. (It should be noted that their tattoos and foul-mouthed language are not a reflection of her and she strongly disapproved of both!)
She was an expert thrifter and took great pride in showing off her latest purchases. On the weekends, she would be out early visiting every estate sale and thrift store within driving distance. She had an incredible passion for decorating her home and filling her closet with her “Fabulous! Stunning!” finds. She was also the owner of what might possibly be the largest collection of Dachshund art and tchotchkes, inspired by the cutest dog of all time, Eliot.
Pat’s deep and long-lasting friendships were an important part of her life. She was a founding member of the Froggy Handshake Club, a group of childhood friends from Glen Rock who have remained steadfast companions through all of life's ups and downs.
She was also the creator of the “Essence Game” amongst her friends made in Yardley, known as The Travelettes. In true Pat fashion, the Essence Game was created to celebrate the unique personalities, passions, and humor she saw in each of them.
She is survived by her husband Don, children Adam and Abbey, siblings James Woods (Stephanie) and Peggy Samsel (Woody), and the family and friends who loved her dearly.
Her legacy is one of joy, laughter, and lots of yoga. Up until her untimely passing, she couldn’t help but reiterate that life was meant to be fun. This legacy will live on in those who loved her most and the countless people whose lives were touched by her in some way. Namaste.
The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 10:30am at St. Ignatius Church, 999 Reading Ave, Yardley, PA. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:30am to 10:30am at the church. Arrangements are under the care of the FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home 17 S. Delaware Avenue Yardley, PA 19067.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Advocates for Homeless and Those in Need (https://www.ahtn.org/), a charity which was close to her heart. Condolences for the family can be left at www.fitzgeraldsommerfuneralhome.com.
