Faye Patchett of Greenwich, CT, passed away peacefully at home on February 17, at the age of 89. Born in New Zealand to the late Ronald and Beryl Sheppard, Faye was the loving older sister of Harvey Sheppard, who sadly preceded her in death.
After graduating from college in New Zealand, Faye set off on a 3-month adventure traveling through Europe in an old London taxi with 5 of her friends. Upon returning, she started work as a secretary, moved on to demonstrating accounting machines, and ended up starting her own business as a mechanized accounting systems consultant.
Mutual friends introduced her to Graham Patchett, they fell in love, and eventually married and started a family. In the early 1970s, Graham got a promotion that took him to New York, and so Faye and family settled in Greenwich, which she adored, and where she happily spent the rest of her life (eventually becoming a U.S. citizen, along with Graham). After raising her children to the point of independence she went back to work locally as a bookkeeper, a job she loved and stayed at until her retirement.
In New Zealand, Faye was an avid golfer, and her love of the game extended to the U.S. where both she and Graham played at Bruce Memorial Golf Course. The couple were also passionate about the game of Bridge and played and hosted many games over the years. They were also passionate about each other, and their relationship set a lifetime example for each of their children about how to love and persevere! Their love for each other, which lasted 60 years, was truly “until death do us part.”
Faye is survived by her three children, Craig, Jeny, and Kim; and nine grandchildren. She also has surviving family in New Zealand, including a sister-in-law, three nieces and their husbands, three grandnieces, and a grandnephews. All remember her fondly as kind, loving, and patient; and will miss her dearly.
At Faye’s request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a breast cancer charity of your choice (see reviews at bit.ly/breast-cancer-charity-reviews); Faye was a breast cancer survivor.
