Patricia Ann Coscia

COSCIA, Patricia Ann - Age 73, of Fenton, formerly of Benton Harbor and Lansing, passed away December 15, 2024. Pat's wish was to donate her body for Medical Research with a focus on Parkinson's disease. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on her birthday, 11:00 AM Friday, May 30, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 600 N. Adelaide Street, Fenton. Patricia's service will be livestreamed and may be viewed on her obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. Visitation will be from 10:00 until 11:00 AM Friday at church. She will be laid to rest in the Columbarium at St. John Church. Memorial contributions in Patricia's memory may be made to the Michigan Parkinson's Foundation https://parkinsonsmi.org/, St. John School https://www.stjohnfenton.com/, or Save the Children https://www.savethechildren.org/.

Patricia was born on May 30, 1951 in Benton Harbor, the daughter of Theodore and Angelina (Logli) Vernasco. She married Richard A. Coscia in Fenton on July 25, 1998. Patricia graduated from St. John High School, Benton Harbor in 1969. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1974 and later received her Masters degree in Education from Michigan State University. Patricia began her teaching career in a one room School House in Dimondale, Michigan. 

She taught in various schools in the Lansing School District as a Special Education Teacher. Patricia taught at Lansing Eastern High School when Magic Johnson was a student there. She retired after 28 years as a Teacher Consultant. After retirement she was the Counselor with the St. John Catholic School in Fenton for seven years. Patricia truly loved serving children. In her free time she enjoyed watching Turner Classic Movies, cooking Italian food, walking in Linden Park and was an active member at St. John Catholic Church, (teaching remarriage and marriage FOCUS classes with her husband). Patricia authored a book entitled "Asperger's: One Family's Experience." She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2010.

Pat's dear friend Ann Garlitz wrote,"Wherever Pat was there was compassion and laughter and joy. She drew people to her because she so genuinely cared for others and the circumstances they were going through in their lives. She was open about sharing her deep sense of faith and trust in God which guided her through the best of times and the most challenging. The many students whose lives she touched, the friendships she drew with her honesty and empathy will forever serve as an inspiration for all of us as to what a grace filled life is. She will be forever a treasured part of our lives."

Patricia is survived by her beloved husband, Richard; children, Lisa Coscia, Rocky (Alexandra) Coscia, and Troy Coscia; grandchildren, Deano, Max, Charlotte, and Adelaide; siblings, Michael (Karla) Vernasco, Michele (Wayne) Demchinski, and Neil (Marcia) Vernasco; and many nieces and nephews.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents. Online tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.