Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt

Patricia A. Slevin, age 88, of Long Eddy and formerly of Wayne, NJ passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 in Florida while receiving the loving care of her family.

Patty was born in Montclair, NJ, raised in East Orange and was one of five children to Peter and Alice Dunigan. While growing up in East Orange, Patty attended Clifford Scott High School graduating with the class of 1949. “Academic Acceleration” was awarded to Patty which allowed her to graduate a year early. This was due to her academic talents and throughout her life, was something she was very proud of. Shortly after graduating, Pat found work at Dow & Symmers Law Office in Manhattan and she commuted to the city with her sister Maureen. She worked there for a few years until she met the love of her life James V. Slevin. The couple met at a dance and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on June 12, 1954. Immediately after getting married, Patty made the decision to become a homemaker and dedicated her life to caring and nurturing her four children. This was Patty's true calling and where she flourished. As Patty's family started to grow, they moved to Wayne in 1963. In 1975 tragedy struck Patty and her family's lives when her daughter Maureen passed away very suddenly in an automobile accident at the age of 20. Patty's strength as a person, their love as a family, and her Catholic faith gave her the power to overcome and move forward with her life.

Patty and Jim bought the house and land in Long Eddy in 1970, and she spent the next 50 summers enjoying Sullivan County with the family. Patty loved participating in local events including the canoe regatta in the 70's, the Callicoon Center Band, the Long Eddy barbeque and the Callicoon Porchfest. Patty treasured hosting many large family weekends “Up the Country” in Long Eddy and the tennis court on the property has been a local social gathering place and family treasure for over 40 years. She was an avid golfer and skilled left-handed tennis player. Upon Jim's retirement the couple spent their winters at their home in Hutchinson Island, FL. Patty was a parishioner of Holy Cross Church in Callicoon, NY and St. Mark's in Fort Pierce, FL.

Nothing in the world meant more to Pat than providing for and spending time with her family. She was a truly devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She and her husband James cherished forty-six years of loving and loyal marriage until James' passing in August of 2000. Patty was proud of her Irish heritage and will always be remembered for her generosity, congeniality, grace, sense of humor and her warm spontaneous smile. She was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people. She will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Patty is survived by her two sons; James Slevin and his wife Elizabeth of Wayne, NJ, and Thomas Slevin of San Francisco, CA, one daughter Gayle DeNicola and her husband Dante of Wayne, two sisters Maureen Palumbo of Millington, NJ, and Bette Laverty and her husband John of Millburn, NJ, one brother John Dunigan of Spring Lake, NJ, six grandchildren: Michael Slevin and his wife Jessica of Wauconda, IL, Lori Slevin of Wayne, Daniel Slevin of San Francisco, Kylie Slevin of San Francisco, Katelyn Slevin of San Francisco, and Justine DeNicola of Wayne, and two great-grandchildren; Jameson and Havilah. She was predeceased by her husband James Slevin (2000), her daughter Maureen Slevin (1975), and her brother Peter Dunigan (1975).

Visitation with the family occurred from 4-8PM on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470. Funeral services were held at 9am on Thursday, May 20 at the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Consolation Church, 1799 Hamburg Tpk, Wayne, NJ where at 10am a funeral mass was celebrated.

Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Ave, East Hanover, NJ

In lieu of flowers, donations in Patty's name may be made to St. Benedict's Preparatory School, 520 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102. https://www.sbp.org.