Patricia Mahoney

February 14, 1938 - September 26, 2021

Peacefully and surrounded by love, Patricia Arlene Mahoney of Topeka, Kansas passed away on September 26, 2021, at the age of 83. Pat was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June of 2016. She fought the disease with the same positivity and strength as she approached all things in her life, continuing to enjoy travel to Colorado, Europe and Alaska and spending time with family. Pat was born on February 14, 1938, to Blanche and Leo Patterson. She grew up on a farm in Tecumseh, Kansas, with many vibrant stories of her farm life. Pat attended Tecumseh Elementary, Highland Park High School, Washburn University and received two Master’s Degrees from Emporia State University and Kansas State University. Pat married David Leo Mahoney on October 3, 1970, in Perth, Australia, where she taught at a Christian Brothers’ School. Dave and Pat moved back to Topeka in 1973. In 1977, she began working in the Atchison/Jefferson County Co-op in special education. She transitioned to teaching 3rd grade at Jefferson West Elementary where she finished her 41-year teaching career. During her retirement from teaching, Pat remained a passionate advocate for children. She spent countless hours volunteering as a board member for Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, and as a Master Gardener always focusing on the projects that engaged children. Pat will be remembered lovingly by her husband of 51 years Dave; daughters, Bridget Farmer and Allison Heaney (Adam); grandchildren, who were the center of her universe, Abigail and Eva Farmer, and Leo and Max Heaney; brother, Richard Patterson (Martha); sister, Alyce Lloyd; and siblings gained through marriage, Teresa Boeding, Alice Heideman, Agnes Commodore (Robert), Patricia Stallbaumer (Patrick), Lucille Haverkamp (Larry), Sue Mahoney and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings gained through marriage, Helen Broxterman (Don), S.J. Boeding, Gerald Heideman and Tom Mahoney. Pat was a friend to all she met, a passionate teacher with a legacy of students whose lives she changed, an extensive traveler and explorer, a baker whose desserts remain legendary, a loving and supportive mom who proved to be a role model for parenting, a grandma who loved her grandchildren tenderly and unconditionally, and a loyal and loving wife to her best friend Dave whose marriage was one to emulate. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, October 3, 2021, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd, Topeka KS 66614. Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. Monday October 4, 2021, at Mater Dei Assumption, 204 SW 8th, Topeka KS 66603, where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Private inurnment will be at a later date. To prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 Virus, masks are required at the funeral home and the Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennfamily.com.