Obituary of Patricia Gaughan

Patricia Gaughan, 71, passed peacefully on November 26, 2020 in State College, PA. Born June 14, 1949 in Scranton, PA, she was the daughter of the late Charles A. and Lola (Barber) Sileo. She is survived by her three siblings; Mary Ann Mistysyn (Dunmore, PA), Charles A. Sileo, II (Dunmore, PA), and Barbara Ann Lester (Lakeland, FL), two daughters; Michele McClurg (Mechanicsburg, PA) and Tina Gaughan Powers (State College, PA), and her grandchildren; Alex Hynosky, Samantha McClurg and Finn Powers.

Pat loved her sweets and reveled in a traditional Thanksgiving meal as well as a homemade Italian feast, which she mastered and shared with family and friends. She taught us how to make delicious cheese raviolis and 'gravy', beef bracioles, and Italian chocolate pepper cookies that became our family staples each holiday.

She was a creative storyteller and enjoyed sharing what she knew, even some four-letter words we teach our children to refrain from using. She was sassy and stubborn, often refusing anything from anyone, but giving everything she had to others. In fact, she was a professional re-gifter witnessed by often seeing others receive items we had recently given her. She had a knack for organizing other people's homes without them asking. You may not have known where anything was when she was done, but everything was clean and neatly stacked in piles.

She lived to make others happy and took pleasure in taking care of people. She loved to sing, quilt, and garden especially when she would 'supervise' others dig in the dirt as she watched cleanly from above, carefully instructing where each plant should be planted and replanted if not to her liking.

She leaves behind a dysfunctional family that she was very proud of and loved dearly. She also left behind several odd items like dozens of mismatched socks, random dinnerware, clothes from 1965, old worn out shoes (not necessarily pairs), and 150 plastic grocery bags as she never threw anything away and only bought items if they were on sale.

She had a kind heart and loved her grandchildren unconditionally. She especially enjoyed watching her grandson, Finn (13), play sports. Not a day went by that she didn't say, 'give my boy a hug and a kiss for me, baby'. Sending you big hugs every day, Mom!

Please give generously to our preferred, local charity, Tides, and dedicate to The Celebration of Pat Gaughan's Life. Mail checks to: Tides, Inc., P.O. Box 1251, State College, PA 16804 or make online donations at https://tidesprogram.org

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.