Patricia (Patty) Ratelle, age 88, of Richfield, Minnesota, died on Sunday, November 22, 2020, at home surrounded by family. She was a nurse by training and the ultimate giver by nature. Patty’s love and energy were focused on caring for her family, friends, the Catholic Church, and her local community. Her pursuit of lifelong learning started with her formal training at St. Catherine’s University and St. Joseph School of Nursing. She dived into her passions by taking many trips to Europe to perfect her culinary skills and then became a Master Gardener to nurture both her personal and the community gardens in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Along with her husband, she was an avid reader across a broad range of topics. This is especially evident in Patty’s support of her local public libraries, as well as her active participation in multiple book clubs and bible study groups.
Patricia is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Alexander Ratelle; parents, Paul and Lillian Reiling; siblings, Virginia Foley and Theodore Reiling; daughter, Carol Ratelle Leach; and son-in-law, Bryan Spano. Survived by her children, Jeanne (Richard) Larson, Alex Ratelle, James (Christine) Ratelle, Kelly (William) Calengor, Suzanne Spano; son-in-law, Joseph Daniel Leach III; brother, Paul (Lois) Reiling; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter’s Church in Richfield, Minnesota followed by interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, is tentatively scheduled for April 16, 2021, which would have been her and Alex’s 66th wedding anniversary. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. Peter’s Church (6730 Nicollet Ave S, Richfield, Minnesota, 55423), Blessed Trinity Catholic School (6720 Nicollet Ave S, Richfield, Minnesota, 55423), or your local public library.
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