Patty L Ferrari

Patty was born on November 25, 1923 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and passed away in Carlyle, Illinois on August 26, 2014. She was named Patricia Louise Edwards and she was the daughter of Oliver and Zeba Edwards, who lived and farmed in Dexter, Missouri. Her mother Zeba died shortly after she was born, and she was then adopted by her aunt and uncle, Frank and Jennie Woodside, who raised her as their own, with great love and care. She had one brother, Jim Edwards, and an adopted sister, Dorothy Woodside, both of whom preceded her in death.
Patty contracted polio at the tender age of nine months, and spent much of her childhood in and out of hospitals, enduring many surgeries on her affected leg. She survived those years with remarkable strength and soon was able to attend school back in her hometown of Bonne Terre, Missouri.
She excelled in music and art. During her high school and college years she played piano, violin, and cello, and sang soprano in school choirs. She attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri where she graduated with a degree in Education. It was there that she met Petty Officer Second Class Edward Ferrari, the man she would marry. On one of their first dates she fell down, and Ed laughingly told her she “fell for him!” Patty’s lilting laugh was her trademark and it brought joy to all around her.
She took a train from Missouri to New London, Connecticut, where she and Ed were married on Dec. 23, 1944, in the midst of World War II. While Ed continued on in the Navy, Patty returned to Ferguson, Missouri where she began teaching kindergarten. In 1950 their first child, Kelly, was born, followed by the birth of their second daughter, Lonnie, in 1953. The Ferraris were a faithful church-going family and Patty’s faith in God was always a very strong foundation throughout her life. She sang in church choirs most of her life, and also continued painting throughout their retirement years. Together they attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mesa, Arizona, where they lived for thirty-three years. Patty and Ed were in their 70th year of marriage, and they always did everything together – right up to the week of their home-going.
Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Ferrari, who passed away two days ago, on August 24, 2014. She is survived by her daughter Kelly and her husband John Mills of Eaton, CO, daughter Lonnie and her husband Roger Hayes of Carlyle, IL, four grandchildren, Casey Hayes of So. Pasadena, CA, Chad Hayes of Highland, IL, Christopher Clayton of Hershey, PA, and Christina Contreras of Eaton, CO, and eight great-grandchildren.
Her family extends heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at the Carlyle Health Care Center and the Heartland Hospice who blessed them so much and made Patty’s last year easier for her; and they are at peace, knowing that Patty knew Jesus, her Savior, and so looked forward to being with Him.
A joint memorial service for both Patty and her husband Ed will be held at the Living Stones Church of God, 991 Franklin Street in Carlyle at 3:30 pm on Sunday, August 31, 2014.
The Frerker Funeral Home in Carlyle is serving the family.