Patricia, as she was known by family and friends, was born December 30, 1951, and passed away on March 12, 2025, in her home in Kingston, NY. Her cause of death was due to dormant health issues exacerbated by the Covid-19 vaccine. She was 73 years old.
At the time of her passing, Patricia had been retired for several years from her 28-year career as a licensed clinical social worker, much of which was spent working at Ulster County Mental Health where, for a long time, she was their only Spanish speaking social worker. Also, as co-owner/operator of the popular new age store Traders of the Lost Art, Inc. located on Wall St. in Kingston NY, she continued to work with her husband, Kenric, up to and through the 2024 X-mas season.
Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, around age 19 she entered the Fine Arts program at the University of Santiago to expand on her love and early signs of talent in drawing, painting and sculpting. Unfortunately, social and political turmoil hindered her studies, so she and her then boyfriend decided to travel throughout South America. Before starting out, for travel convenience and safety, they first got married. Ending up in Venezuela where the economy was booming due to massive oil refining, their marriage failed, and in less than one year together they had it annulled.
Choosing to remain in Venezuela on her own, Patricia began pursuing a career in cosmetology. Successful and content with life there, Patricia applied for Permanent Resident status, and shortly thereafter obtained Venezuelan Citizenship. She was now a citizen and legal resident of two separate countries. Soon there would be a third, the U.S.A.
While living a comparatively good life, she met a group of young people her age (early to mid-20’s), who were studying and teaching religion on a level she already knew something about. Growing up Catholic with a background in Rosicrucianism, now she was being introduced to Theosophy, the crown jewel of comparative religion and metaphysics. Taking her studies seriously, within 5 years she became co-director of the school there then known as The New Acropolis, which had more than 50 schools worldwide in South America, Europe, Canada and Australia, but not one in the U.S.A. This was her calling.
Her co-director and best friend, a well-educated industrial engineer, asked Patricia to join him in going to America to found a New Acropolis school of philosophy, but first asked for her hand in marriage because that is what the organization desired for appearances’ sake. Little thought was needed as they had already entered into a romantic relationship, so, before coming to the U.S., they got married, eventually settling in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. By the end of 1978 they were set up in a small apartment office space large enough to accommodate up to 20 people for lectures or classes. Saturday evening lectures frequently exceeded their capacity, but no one ever complained.
Two fascinating facts about Patricia and her husband were: 1) how quickly they mastered the English language; and 2) the sheer number of students, American and Latino, that were studying at the school.
This second marriage of Patricia’s also ended in divorce. Due to an amicable settlement, they were able to continue as partners and co-directors of the school. In 1983 Patricia left the school permanently to pursue her own life and education.
In 1987, Patricia graduated from Cal State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, immediately moving, thereafter, to New York City with her then boyfriend, me, and eventually lifelong love and husband of 37 years. Continuing her spiritual studies and choosing to pursue a life of independent service to humanity, Patricia obtained a master’s degree in social work from New York University and, in 1992, began a career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The primary institutions she worked for were: NYC Dept. of Child Care Services; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Green County Mental Health; Ulster County Mental Health; 8 years of private clinical practice before retirement in 2020; and 4 years of intense retail sales out of the store Traders Of The Lost Art, Inc., selling books, crystals, jewelry, art, statuary, tarot cards, etc., up to and through the 2024 X-mas season.
Patricia’s last few weeks of life involved a great deal of pain and suffering. Being with her day and night was not easy. I feel she suffered more than she had to and bore more pain than she let anyone know about. She initiated the DNR (do not resuscitate) form procedure while in the hospital before coming home under hospice care. In the presence of the hospice representative, she told me to not interfere with her dying process and wanted me to promise that I wouldn’t. In my mind, but without saying so, I could not imagine seeing a person dying and not calling for emergency medical help if it was in my power to do so. So, I refused to sign the form. Then, in a way more sternly than I had seen her respond to any issue ever, she said “no… if I’m dying, let me, … I can’t live like this anymore…”. In that moment I realized that, all along, she had been hiding from everyone her true depth of suffering. She did not want me to know what her real pain was like because she was afraid her pain would become my pain. She had been treating me like a child, and she was right. At that moment I left the room so she would not see me crying like a baby. She knew me well, but I could never let her see me cry.
Was I right or wrong about that, I don’t know. She died a few weeks later. She died alone, with nobody by her side. For not being with her in her final moment, for not seeing her final gaze, for not feeling her final pulse, for not hearing her final words or hearing her final gasp for air, is what manifests most in my mind when I’m grieving.
Now, nine months since her death, and still the thought of being absent during my love’s final moments of life on Earth causes tears to gush forth during my silent prayers and meditations. However sad or lonely I may feel, three thoughts keep me vigilant and help me stay strong. First: though Patricia will never again be by my side, my memories of her are so packed with goodness and joy that I can only feel thankful for all the time we did have together. Second: Patricia was like a gift, as if God rewarded me for keeping a promise I made to become a better human being at some specific time in life. Third: with my remaining time here on Earth I can try fulfilling my promises to Patricia; my duty to humanity; my purpose for living; and, thus, add to our heavenly rewards for the hereafter. You think!!?? Glory Be to God. Amen.
Everyone is invited to attend a short prayer and memorial service in Patricia’s honor at:
The OLD DUTCH CHURCH OF KINGSTON
272 Wall Street, Kingston, NY 12401 – (845) 338-6759
Monday, December 29, 2025, 6:30 PM
Thanks to all the people who took time out to read this message about Patricia. And thanks to all of you who sent me well wishes through cards, emails, telephone calls and voice messages. God Bless You All.
— Kenric W. Abatayo
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