You may have seen an older while haired lady buying birdseed at Browne’s or finding small treasures at the thrift store for her daughter’s kitchen window.

You might have seen her putting too much honey in her 12-ounce non-fat latte at Cafe Demeter. What you didn’t see was her history.

Patricia Schwinn was born in Bellingham, Wash., June 7, 1925. From an early age she showed the same spunk as her grandmother, Maddie Goodrich, who, at the age of 19, traveled alone from Watertown, N.Y. to Bellingham, Wash. to be a school teacher at a logging camp.

As a young woman she loved the fact that God actually had a name, Jehovah. The more she studied the bible she felt compelled to spend as much time as she could to help clear His name of the lies that corrupt religion had heaped on it.

She found that He was actually loving, compassionate, fair, just and loyal. She always felt He had hold of her hand.

Many of the things that happened to this sweet lady during her 88 years could have crushed the spirit of the strongest man, but her faith in her God, Jehovah, was her anchor.

Patricia left a heritage of the greatest value to her daughter, Heidi, and her two grandchildren, Gabriel and Liviah. She opened the eyes of children and adults alike to the sacredness of life, even the smallest creature.

Patricia fearlessly stood up to bullies and stood her ground against untruth.

So… now what? Is Patricia’s history all that is left of her? Absolutely not!

She believed Jesus’ words, “The meek shall inherit the earth” and that God’s will would be done on earth as in heaven. Lately the promise of the resurrection of the dead to earth, our home, comforted her.

This white-haired lady you once knew will wake up in a peaceful earth surrounded by other resurrected family and friends. She will be young and radiant, full of life, excited for the future.

What words of wisdom would she share if she were here? The words of Jesus at Matthew 22:37: “Love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.”

We who knew her were blessed by her presence here for 88 years and all those searching for truth will be blessed with her company forever, here, on our home, earth.

— Family of Patricia Schwinn