Patricia J. (Fosher) Eaton

SHIRLEY: Patricia J Eaton, “Pat” of Shirley,died on October 12, 2023. Patricia was born on July 21, 1941. She grew up in Weare and Manchester, NH. At an early age, she began learning how to sew from her Great Grandmother. While living overseas, as a military wife, she found her community through her sewing for service members, Police, and weddings. Pat had owned and operated The American Tailor Shop outside of Fort Devens until she “retired” to doing smaller projects from her home. She was a gifted seamstress and storyteller. One of her many stories involved a wheel of cheese that she and her husband, Tom, shipped home to her grandmother from Germany. It was a big production shipping something like that overseas, but also a meaningful gift because it reminded her of a childhood spent in Holland. It was memorable to the postman too, as it was a warm day and a potent cheese. Legend has it that he arrived before sunrise with the delivery because he couldn’t bear the smell. Most of her stories involved family and food–expressions of love and a life well lived. She told them often because she knew and met so many people. She often told us stories about those people too – “You remember so-and-so,” she would say, and we would not because we simply couldn’t keep track of all the people she connected with, but it came easily to her. She is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Command Sergeant Major Francis “Tom” Eaton, and is survived by her brothers, Gordan, Francis and sister-in-law, Sheila. She leaves her children, Gerald, Michael, and Penny, as well as Casey, Amy, and James. She also leaves behind the pride of her life: her grandchildren, Michael, Riley, Colin, Tommy, Molly, Maeve, Ronan, Kaelyn, Cole, Kendra; and four great-grandchildren, Branden, Harper, Kimber, and Collin and their mom, Justine. Finally, she leaves behind her beloved Ember, her bulldog and constant companion who was by her side until the end. Funeral services and burial are private. Memorial contributions may be made to Mass General Cancer Fund, in memory of Patricia J Eaton, 55 Fruit Street, Yawkey 7E-7302, Boston, MA 02114 or here: https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate?tribute_make=1

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Patricia J. (Fosher) Eaton

July 21, 1941 - October 12, 2023