Kathleen Ann Patsey

Kathleen A. Patsey of Arvada, Colorado passed away on July 17, 2016 at the age of 70. Born Kathleen Ann Gizewski on June 23, 1946 to parents John K. Gizewski and Laura Berniece Harris in Denver Colorado. Kathy was raised in the Polish neighborhood of Globeville in Denver. She went to grade school at St Joseph's Polish grade school, attended Cathedral High School in Denver and Graduated from Marycrest High School in North Denver in 1965. Following a year at Colorado State University in Fort Collins she returned to work in Denver and Married James D. (Jim) Patsey of Denver on February 4, 1967. Their wedding, with the marriage ceremony at St. Joseph's Polish Church and the two day reception at the Polish Hall on Washington St. was one of the last big Polish weddings in the Globeville community. In 1970 She and Jim moved to Fort Collins where both of their sons were born; Christopher James in 1970 and John Michael in 1973. While in Fort Collins she served for a time as director of a co-op pre-school and was very active in a women's social sorority. In 1977 Kathy and Jim moved to Arvada. In addition to keeping house and raising the two boys she operated a licensed day-care at home. In 1986 she went back to school, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services in 1989 and then on to the University of Northern Colorado where she received a Master of Arts degree in Agency counseling. She became a licensed professional counselor in the State of Colorado and worked at several agencies performing substance abuse counseling. The final stage of her career was with Jefferson Center for Mental Health where she worked for fourteen years helping the mentally ill population. She helped scores of people and ultimately saved some lives. Working with these afflicted people was truly her passion and calling. Kathy was very athletic. As a teenager she swam in competition. She was a hiker and mountain climber, having summited several of Colorado's 14er's. She worked out daily either at a club or at home. She was a runner, swimmer, cyclist and SCUBA diver. She loved Hawaii where she and Jim own a condo on the island of Maui. The time she spent on Maui was her little slice of Heaven. Kathleen is survived by her husband Jim and sons Christopher James (Jody) and John Michael, nieces and nephews Carrie Oakes, Melissa Crabtree, James Garland and Brian Garland. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her older sister Jan Garland. There will be a Catholic Mass on Saturday, July 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church in Denver at East 46th Avenue and Pearl St. Reception to follow will be announced at the service. In lieu of flowers or gifts please make donations in Kathleen's memory to: Jefferson Center for Mental Health, online at www.JCMH.org, or by mail to 4851 Independence St. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Please share your memories of Kathy and condolences with her family by signing the guest book below.