Patricia A. Marinelli

ALBANY - Patricia Ann Marinelli, 87, wife of the late Honorable Raymond E. Marinelli entered eternal life at 7:15 pm on Friday, May 5, 2023, with her loving children by her side and just as a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. Pat was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who was always involved, articulate and exuberant in all her relationships, personal, private, and professional. She was never one to mince words and, in an era when many women were still relegated to be full time homemakers, she courageously forged her way forward into what was then considered a man's world. Pat, or Patsy as she was fondly referred to as a child, was born in Buffalo, New York on October 11, 1935. She was the only daughter of John E. Farrell and Hildegard Deinzer Farrell and sister of John E. Farrell Jr. and Donald W. Farrell, all of whom predeceased her. Born to her parents later in life, Patsy was raised as an only child while her brothers were living independently or off at school. Even as a child, Pat had beautiful curly blonde hair, prompting her mother to dress her up like Shirley Temple. Pat fondly recalled crossing the Canadian border during WWII with her father, a consummate Irishman, where he would pick up spirits to be shared with his friends.

Independent from an early age, Pat was determined to attend Cornell University School of Human Ecology. Because her parents were not college educated, it fell upon Pat to take the steps necessary to realize her dream of attending college. Once a student at Cornell, Pat became a proud, lifelong member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority where she forged deep and long-lasting friendships. In 1957 Pat graduated from Cornell but she continued her involvement with the University by serving for many years on the Cornell University Council, as Chairman of the local Secondary School Committee, and by reconnecting with her sorority sisters at campus reunions. Significantly, at age 81, Pat was able to traverse the "hill" one last time to attend her 60th college reunion. Pat made sure that her children experienced the same quality higher education and associated social experiences that she did at Cornell and was ecstatic when her twin daughters also graduated from Cornell.

Pat had a diverse professional career. After college she began to work as an extension agent in Erie County, and then worked as a home economist for General Foods where she analyzed and tested recipes for new consumer food products including a then new and innovative product, Jell-O 1-2-3, which became one of the top grossing easy to make desserts. This led to subsequent jobs with the public relations firm of Theodore Sills, as the Executive Director of the Capital District Dairy Council and as the administrator of the NYS Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs where she worked directly with Assemblyman Harvey Strelzin. The Assemblyman valued Pat's frank and well considered opinions so much that he routinely referred to her "counselor." While working in the legislature, Pat was instrumental in developing new legislation including a new law requiring drug companies to offer lower cost generic drugs and a controversial law which banned facilities from forcing women to pay to gain access to restroom stalls. Pat also worked as a special assistant to the chairman of the Panel on the Future of Government and as Executive Director of the New York State Joint Labor-Management Committee on substitute teachers. While working full time, Pat became publicity chair of the City Club of Albany and later acted as Chairman of the New York State Legislative Forum, a non-partisan educational group. Pat also worked as a mediator on controversial Family Court matters and volunteered her time to St. Anne's Institute.

In the late 1950's, while working in the city of New York, Pat met her future husband Ray who was working at an advertising agency producing and directing live television spots while studying Law at New York Law School. In 1959, they were married and moved back to Ray's hometown Albany, New York where they started to raise a family. In 1962 Pat gave birth to her twin daughters Kathleen and Karen and in 1964 to her son Robert Mark and later daughter Lisa Marie, who was born during the great Northeast blackout of 1965. As she was in professional matters, Pat was a ferocious advocate for her children, and she temporarily left the workforce to ensure the quality of their formative education and development. Pat was always a stanch defender of her children's' rights. As was typical of Pat, she would hear none of it when Kathleen was once told that she could not play basketball at a city park with the boys because she was a girl. During this time, Pat, Ray, and their children took many family vacations to exciting places, some with Pat's brother Don, his wife Betty their children of similar ages. Once her children were settled, Pat enthusiastically reentered the workforce. It was during this period that she became more actively involved, along with Ray, in the Albany democratic political scene. It was not unusual to find Pat enjoying a meal at the City Club of Albany or the local democratic hangout, Farnham's Larkin, debating political topics of the day with governmental and elected luminaries. As a working woman with four school age children, Pat necessarily had to become an expert at balancing her large family and work life. On Sundays, after attending Catholic mass, she could be found in the kitchen preparing home cooked meals for the week ahead. The house would smell of marinara sauce, a household favorite.

By example and word, Pat showed her children that they could accomplish anything in life they put their minds to. With Pat's encouragement, each of her children forged a different and unique path through life. Kathleen followed Ray into law, Karen went into human resources, Robert started his own successful, bi-costal interior design business and Lisa, who routinely marched to the beat of her own drummer, followed an uncommon path from medicine into a love of children and teaching. Both Pat and Ray can be credited for their children's' success.
After a professional career spanned over 40 years, Pat retired and took up the game of golf with conviction. She was a long-term member of Wolferts Roost Country Club where she served as Chair of the Women's Golf League and routinely attended Sunday brunch as a "regular." Pat was an excellent cook, a voracious reader, loved fashion and style and enjoyed exercise and taking Zumba classes.
In 1998 and then 2002, Pat and Ray were blessed with the birth of their two talented and intelligent granddaughters, Allison Rae, and Patricia Kathleen. Pat was especially touched that her second granddaughter, known as "Tricia," was named after her. Pat took pride in watching Allison and Tricia grow and develop. Pat especially enjoyed Allison's beautiful works of art and watching Tricia's daring spirit flourish. Pat did consider some of Tricia's pursuits to be somewhat frightening, but this did not stop the then 80-year-old Pat from climbing off a bobbing speed boat in the middle of the Mohawk River to hitch a ride on the back of jet sky driven by a then 14-year-old Tricia.

Pat was predeceased by her beloved husband of 57 years, Ray, and by her cherished youngest child, Lisa Marie. Pat is survived by her children Kathleen, Karen Gomez (Bill) and Robert Mark (Wes Carroll), granddaughters Allison Rae and Tricia Kathleen Gomez. Pat is also survived by her brother Don's wife, Betty Farrell and by several nieces and nephews. Pat will be missed by all those who loved and cared for her. She was truly a talented, well-rounded, and special person who lived an extraordinary life.

Pat's family appreciates the care she received from her caregivers throughout the years, especially Dr. Jill Braverman-Panza and, most recently, staff of the St. Peter's Eddy facilities.

As a young child Pat regularly attended Catholic mass, a practice she would continue as a communicant of the catholic church throughout her adult life. The church was a source of comfort and guidance for Pat and gave her a sense of well-being. In accordance with Pat's wishes a Mass of Christian burial will be held to celebrate Pat's life and love of Christ. The mass will be held in the chapel at St. Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Rd., Loudonville, NY 12111 on Friday May 12, 2023, at 10:30 am. The mass will also celebrate the lives of Pat's husband, Ray and daughter, Lisa Marie, both of whom who she loved dearly. There will be no calling hours at the funeral home. There will be a visitation from 9:30 am to 10:30 am prior to mass. Pat, Ray, and Lisa Marie will be interred in the family plot at St. Agnes Cemetery immediately following the funeral mass.

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