Patricia (Swain) Zatkowski

Patricia (Olive) Swain Zatkowski went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on a beautiful, sunny Sunday, May 7, 2023.  She was 84 years old.  Pat was the daughter of Edward Swain, Sr. and Mary Morrow Swain.  She was a lifelong resident of Manchester, having graduated from Manchester High School, Class of 1956. 

Pat is survived by her two loving daughters, Jill Zatkowski of Manchester and Lisa Jo Gavin and her husband, John Gavin, of Bolton.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Adam Gavin, Kyle Gavin and his wife Jessica Blatchley Gavin, Hannah Kanter and her husband Jeremiah Kanter, Leah Gavin, Halle Gavin, and Riley Gavin, along with great-grandchildren Linnea and Emmett Kanter.  Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law Edward and Shirley Swain, and her sister and brother-in-law Margaret (Greta) and Russell Haugh.  Also predeceasing Pat were her ex-husband Henry (Hank) Zatkowski and Fiancé Robert (Bob) Tyrol.

Pat worked in the Manchester Public School System, Travelers Insurance Company, and retired from JC Penney.  Pat and Bob loved to travel, having many adventures around the world.  Most of all, she cherished time with her family and her treasured friends.  It is these loving relationships that sustained her in the later years of her life – family dinners, spending time with wonderful neighbors, lunches that would linger into dinnertime, and trips to the casino to try their luck at the penny slots and enjoy a wonderful dinner. 

Pat requested we end her story with something she read that fit her perfectly:  As I look back on my life, I realize that God has always been with me.  There have been happy times and there have been sad times, but it is true as it says in the Bible, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.”  I did not know it at the time, but looking back at life from both sides now, I absolutely know that is true. 

A graveside service will take place on Monday, May 15, 2023, at 11:00am at East Cemetery in Manchester, Connecticut. 

We will always love and miss you, Pat.  See you in Heaven. 

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