Patricia (Rice) Spaulding

Patricia “Patsy” Spaulding, 74, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died as she wished, surrounded by love in her home of almost 48 years. Predeceased by both her beloved husband, Peter J. Spaulding, Sr. and her loving brother, James Rice weeks apart in 2015, she was truly brokenhearted in recent years.

Born to English immigrants James and Elizabeth Rice in 1943, Patricia was raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. Ever the Brooklyn girl, her heart was stolen one day at a chance meeting with a Jersey boy called “Quiet Pete” at the Sea Girt Inn. After marrying in 1970, the couple moved to Sayreville and raised their three children there together. Patricia had several jobs throughout her life, and among her favorites, were Bilow Liquors, Sayreville Pharmacy, and Sun-Ray Drugs, where, in 1988, she introduced her daughter to a young man who would become her son-in-law. Throughout the years, Patsy enjoyed Friday night dinners at Costa Verde, lunches at the Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette, and rides down to Keyport with her beloved husband. Always sporting her green “Anthony’s Answer to Cure CF” t-shirt in honor of her grandson, she truly was “Judge Judy’s” greatest fan and enjoyed countless hours watching “Law and Order” and “NCIS.”

As we would always joke, “you can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but you can’t take the Brooklyn out of the girl.” Our mother died as she lived: on her own terms and with her genuine fighting spirit. We are thankful that she is now at peace and with the ones she loved with all of her heart.

She is survived by her three children, her son Peter and his wife Sara Andre of West Des Moines, IA, her son Jim and his fiancé, Laura, of Highland Park, and her daughter, Kerryann and her husband Ken, of the Cliffwood Beach section of Old Bridge. She was the proud grandmother to her five grandsons: AJ, Sam, Ben, Rory and Grady. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Carol Rice, of Staten Island, NY, her niece Christa Lavin of Fanwood, as well as many members of the Spaulding family.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday February 8, 2018 at 8:15am from The Gundrum Service “Home For Funerals” 237 Bordentown Avenue, South Amboy followed by a 9am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Lawrence Church, Laurence Harbor. Cremation will be private.  Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the BREATHE Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis in honor of her grandson, Anthony “AJ” Silvestri. https://thebreathefoundation.org/

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