Patricia A. Stewart

Patricia A. Stewart

Patricia A. Stewart of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, died Nov. 4, 2018, after a lengthy battle with cancer. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Blanche Meeker, a sister, Joan Booth and a nephew, William D. Fleck.

She is survived by a sister and two brothers, Judy Shearer and husband Harry of Bonners Ferry, Dan Meeker and wife Karen also of Bonners Ferry and Jim Meeker and wife Debbe of Goldsboro, N.C. Also surviving are Pat’s four children who were the light of her life: Sandy Rowland and husband Marty, Mike Stewart and wife Traci, Tim Stewart and wife Melissa all of Milford, Neb., and Sarah Jenkins and husband Ryan of Bonners Ferry. Pat was blessed with 13 grandchildren, Caitlin, Sean, Trace, Maggie, Jamie, Jon, Travis, Riley, Hudson, Noah, Onaleigh, Bailey, and Hope. Pat and her family opened their home to host international exchange students for many years. Pat’s exchange daughters include Paola (Chile), Dani (Germany), Maria (Chile), Barbara (Germany), Lotti (Switzerland), Carol (Colombia), and Toruun (Norway).

Pat graduated from Bonners Ferry High School. She earned a Provisional Teaching Certificate at North Idaho College and graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Elementary Education. This began Pat’s love of teaching. Pat taught in New Plymouth, Idaho; Stevenson, Wash.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Department of Defense Schools in Germany, and in Bonners Ferry in a career spanning 38 years. Summer months were spent gardening, canning and spending time with family. She served with pride for 12 years at U.S. Customs during summer “vacation”.

Pat was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry. She taught religious education classes and sang in the choir for many years. She volunteered at St. Mary Catholic School in North Carolina and at Bonners Ferry Middle School. Pat also spent many hours teaching English as a Second Language and knitting scarves for the Cancer Society.

Pat had a love of traveling that took her around the world. She visited her sister in Japan and later lived in Germany for three years. After retiring, Pat split her time between North Carolina and Bonners Ferry. Her brothers graciously shared their homes with her which allowed Pat to travel freely while still having a place to call home. She took several trips to Europe and South America to visit former exchange students. These travels took her to France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic and Colombia. Pat traveled often to visit her children and friends and loved seeing all the local sites and National Parks along the way.

Pat will be greatly missed by her beloved family and friends. She bravely fought cancer with a positive spirit and an amazing will to live. She leaves her children and grandchildren with lessons in faith, hope, courage, and service to others that they will cherish until they meet again. They are so thankful for a lifetime of memories with an amazing mother and grandmother. It is the family’s hope that you will help them honor their mother’s love for teaching by bringing to the service a backpack or school supplies to be donated to BoCo Backpacks for local students.

Rosary will be said for Pat at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Funeral services will be at St. Ann’s Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, followed by a private burial service.