Patricia Parhat

PARHAT, Patricia “Pat” Jane (Flanigan) - age 92, of Fenton, passed away Wednesday, September 16, 2020.  Visitation will be held 4-6 PM Thursday October 1 and 9-10:30 AM Friday, October 2 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. A private Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, October 2 at 11 AM. Those desiring may view Pat’s service on her obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Genesee County or American Red Cross, please include her name when making donation so the family can be notified.

Pat was born on September 27, 1927 in Flint, MI, the daughter of Virgil Henry Flanigan and Anna Mary (Eck) Flanigan.  She spent many years in the Flint and Grand Blanc area.  As a young girl, Pat belonged to the Stepping Stone Club (which was similar to Girl Scouts). As a young teen she started her volunteering as a member of the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.  She wanted to do her part to support the war effort. Pat also was an usher at the Palace Theater in Flint.  She graduated from Flint Northern High School, class of 1945.  Prior to getting married, Pat worked as a long distance and mobile telephone switch board operator at Michigan Bell Telephone Company in Flint.

Pat met her husband Norman (a great dancer) at Club Mayfair in Flint where live Big Band music was played.  He asked her to dance and it became a dance that lasted a lifetime! They courted, Pat and Norm fell in love, eloped and married on February 5, 1949 in Angola, IN.  Pat worked with her husband, mother-in-law, and Norm’s grandmother at their family owned restaurant, Nancy’s Spudnut Shop on S. Dort Hwy in Flint until the restaurant was sold.  Her greatest joy was working at home raising their children.  When her kids where grown, she began working in retail at Grant’s Department Store and then at Nicole’s Women’s Clothing Boutique in Grand Blanc.

Pat loved volunteering at the kid’s school, Lewis Elementary School of Flint where she was a member of the PTA; as a gray lady (volunteer nurse) at Flint St. Joseph Hospital, and the American Red Cross where she was a blood donor giving 188 pints (over 23 gallons)! She also volunteered for the Humane Society of Genesee County earning the volunteer of the year award in 1996. She went to training to have their Golden Retriever, Lisa, certified as a Therapy Dog.

She had a lifetime commitment to fitness her entire life.  Hurley Health and Fitness put Pat’s name on their wall due to her fitness commitment.  Pat continued her workout at home 60 minutes a day on her treadmill until she was 89 years young.  She became vegan in 1966 exclusively eating turkey, chicken, fish, leafy greens and a variety of fruits and vegetables, and high fiber foods.  Pat practiced this regimen throughout her entire adult life incorporating it into her husband and children's daily diets, along with lean cuts of beef.

Pat was a lifelong student, who loved reading and keeping up with current news and events.

She loved flowers and gardening. The seeds of love Mom selflessly sowed throughout her lifetime will bloom forever in all that crossed her path.

Surviving are: son, Scott Parhat of Grand Blanc; daughter, Nancy Parhat of Fenton; brother-in-law, Martin and wife Judy Parhat of Phoenixville, PA; sister-in-law Marie (Parhat) and husband Wayne Williams of Malvern, PA; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Thank you to The Medical Team and to Fenton Lockwood and both their staffs.