Patricia Ann Blistan

Patricia Ann (Fata) Blistan, 75 of Gainesville, Virginia, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed away on Friday, July 9, 2021. Patricia was born on August 24, 1945, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Steven and Helen (Onda) Fata. Surviving are her loving daughter, Denise Lynn (Kremp) Rose, and son-in-law R. Scott Rose of Gainesville, Virginia; Step-grandson Michael S. Haugan (Corinne), step-great-grandsons Vaughn M. and Murphy D. Haugan; her husband of 25 years, Gerald W. Blistan of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; many Nieces; Nephews and Cousins. Although Patricia was an only child, she leaves many beloved friends that she considered to be a part of her family. Some of those friendships spanned most of her lifetime and many of those treasured friendships resulted in her gaining “sisters” that she always longed for growing up. Patricia attended David B. Oliver High School, proudly graduating in 1963. Although she dreamt of becoming a lawyer and attending the University of Pittsburgh, she followed the wishes of her family and applied to the top three Nursing Programs at the time being accepted at all three. She attended Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing, becoming a Registered Nurse on August 24, 1966. Her Nursing career began at Allegheny General Hospital where she worked the Pediatric Unit, Intensive Care Unit (team leader), Critical Care Unit, Telemetry Unit and finally Utilization Review. She went on to work for Highmark Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania in various capacities and then retiring as a Nurse Analyst Reviewer. Patricia was the quintessential Mother, Wife, Friend and Human Being. She loved her devoted family and cherished friends deeply, immensely, and immeasurably. Wherever she went, she never met a stranger, rather, made a friend. People always commented on her big and beautiful smile, infectious laugh, and positive energy. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. She devoted her life to helping others, not only during her career as a Nurse, but to her loved ones, friends, and strangers alike, daily throughout her lifetime. Patricia treated others as she would want to be treated and instilled the virtues of faith, hope, charity and love especially to her daughter and those she was especially close to. She leaves a legacy of generosity benefitting many…too many to mention. Patricia was a lifelong member of Sokol U.S.A, a fraternal organization which had its roots in East Central Europe and promoted “a sound mind in sound body”. It emphasized this idea through physical fitness and encouraged and supported social, cultural, and charitable interactions between the members and their communities. Patricia was a member of Lodge 276, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was active in her lodge participating in the Women’s Calisthenics Program and holding the positions of treasurer and recording secretary at various times. Patricia also was recording secretary for the District MCT meetings. Sokol U.S.A.’s motto is “Break through, jump over, but do not crawl under.” This is certainly a motto that Patricia could and did embrace! She never let anything stop her in life and she was a stanch individual. In 2014, Sokol U.S.A became a division of GBU Financial Life which is a member owned company that assists families in obtaining stable financial investments for financial health. GBU Life also promotes charitable causes, encourages volunteerism, and inspires the members to make a difference in their communities. One of Patricia’s favorite projects of GBU was Operation Reach Out that packs thousands of care packages to support deployed troops and Veterans in need. Not only was she an annual donor but one year she volunteered packing the boxes and really got her steps in! She was also fond of GBU’s One Hour At A Time Program which allows members to volunteer their time at their favorite approved organization and GBU supports the organization by paying $15 an hour on behalf of the member for every hour that a member volunteers up to $150. After Retirement, Patricia did not sit still but rather was busier than ever! She continued her zeal for helping others by volunteering at Allegheny General Hospital—Suburban Campus— sometimes twice a week, driving her friends to appointments or shopping and joining Club Julian 24 Hour Fitness Center to attend water aerobics and continue her love of swimming, exercise and making friends. For her, the best part of water aerobics, was the friendships and connections she made and of course, going out to lunch with those friends after exercising. Patricia had a strong faith throughout her life, read the Bible in its entirety multiple times, developed a daily practice of prayer, and developed her own personal relationship with Jesus. One of Patricia’s favorite Bible verses out of many was Galatians 5:22-23. “For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” She believed that the Holy Spirit empowered her to withstand challenging situations with perseverance and endurance and she tried to live her life daily emulating the attributes found in those two Bible verses. For most of her life, she was a member of Holy Emmanuel Slovak Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While a member there, she was the church secretary, in essence, preparing the weekly bulletin, church newsletters and the church’s annual report. Patricia was also an active member of the Dorcas Society and the choir. When that church closed its doors, she attended Christ Lutheran Church of Ross Township. Although Patricia was raised Lutheran, she always had an interest in the Catholic Faith. After attending many Roman Catholic Masses with her daughter, son-in-law, and friends her interest grew! Then, when Patricia was 74 3/4, she converted to Catholicism during the pandemic, in a private mass with her family. It was held in the Church of St. Mary’s Chapel, a historic landmark in Fairfax, Virginia. It was once used by Clara H. Barton (Founder of The American Red Cross) to nurse the wounded and dying soldiers from The Second Battle of Manassas and the Engagement Near Chantilly. Patricia became a Catholic on a very meaningful day— the occasion of her daughter and son-in-law’s 25th Wedding Anniversary. Patricia’s life was well lived, and she was a blessing to all that knew and met her. A memorial Mass will be held on August 21, 11:00 a.m. at (St. Michael the Arch Angel Parish) at St. Bernard’s Church, 311 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15216. A luncheon and reception will immediately follow. A funeral Mass will be held on August 24, 2021, 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, Virginia 20155. Internment will immediately follow at Place of Peace Columbarium, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, Virginia, 20136. A luncheon and reception will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity in loving memory of Patricia. She believed helping the less fortunate with her time, talent and treasure and her family continues to follow in her footsteps. Patricia was a lifelong blood donor and a financial donor to many charitable organizations that supported Veterans, Cancer patients, food deprived individuals and animals—to mention a few. Patricia was an ardent and avid animal lover who believed in supporting animal charities that tried to keep animals a live such as Animal Friends and The Humane Society of Pittsburgh. In her mind, no animal should be abused nor neglected. Animals needed someone to stick up for them and help them since they did could not do it for themselves and she gladly obliged. Finally, Patricia is greatly missed by her daughter and son-in-law’s two Golden Doodles (Takoda-Bear and Athena) and cat (Mesa). All three pets provided her unconditional love and companionship during her battle with advanced Cancer. The Doodles will miss her most especially when they are romping on the beach in Dewey, Delaware supporting Food and Friends—Patricia’s favorite trip with the pups!

Patricia Ann Blistan

August 24, 1945 - July 9, 2021