Patricia L. Wylie

Patricia L. Wylie, age 85, passed away April 19, 2024. She was a daughter of the late Benjamin and Genevieve “Jean” Kaufman Duty. Born in Manhattan on November 24, 1938, she lived in New York, LA, and Connecticut.

Pat or “Miss Pat,” as affectionately known by her students, lived an amazing life. She combined her love of writing and theater for most of her years. She acted in and wrote many theatrical performances. She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) back in the 60’s and remained a member all the way into her 70’s. One of her fondest memories was starring in Summer Stock.

In the mid 2000’s, Pat and her sister Jean (Miss Pat and Miss Jean) took their love of acting and writing and taught theater classes to young children ages 6-15. They wrote, directed and produced the performances. Miss Jean was also in charge of costumes, and the musical scores and choreography. Pat and Jean were very close; they were more than sisters, they were best friends, and lived in the same home together for many years.

Pat is survived by her sisters, Jean Battah and Jerry Lesser-Goldstein, many nieces and nephews, and even some great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Joanne.

Pat will be missed by the many friends she has made over the years, including her best friend Marissa Gioffre from New York, as well as her local friends Peggy, Jessica, Holly and Dawn, her friends from the Meriden Senior Center, Meriden Police Department, Meriden Public Works, and Stop & Shop, and her many neighbors who took the time to look in on her. A great big thank you to Natalie, Ruth, and Melba of the Senior Center and all of the friends who helped Pat over the last few years as the aging process began to take its toll. A thank you to Attorney and Conservator Agnes Orlowski and her Admin. Assistant Yolanda for all of their patience, hard work and their unending knowledge of the elder care system during this difficult process. Thank you to the amazing ICU staff at Midstate Medical Hospital, who treated Pat with the utmost care, patience, dignity and kindness.

Those of you who have had the pleasure of knowing Pat know she was a strong-willed woman, who loved to read, write, debate, talk about politics and history. She was a free spirit and a civil and human rights advocate. She loved her many pets she had over the years, and leaves behind her cherished kitty Ming. She had fascinating stories of her life, especially having been in the acting world and meeting so many celebrities, such as Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe…just to name a few.

Although she never married (but left a trail of broken hearts, from what has been told) nor had children, she touched the lives of friends and family and she will be forever in our hearts and memories.

Family and Friends may attend her Prayer Service on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Beecher & Bennett – Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden, CT. Burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery. If you feel the need to do something in her memory, please remember Pat was a true animal lover and would be very pleased with a donation made in her name to the Meriden Humane Society. She was also a lover of the arts and children’s theater and would be touched if a donation were made in her name to Girls, Inc. of Meriden CT.