Marion Patrick

Marion Dale Patrick, 98, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Riverstreet Manor. She was known affectionately as Aunt Marion, Auntie and Cousin Marion.

Born on January 3, 1926, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Louis Patrick and Lou Emma (Newton) Patrick. The Patrick family moved to Wilkes-Barre during the late 1920s when Marion was a young child.

Growing up, Ms. Patrick attended city schools, attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and participated in the Sunshine Club (an African American children’s social club during the 1930s). She had a strong penchant for being a very social person, as depicted in her high school yearbook representative of the many social organizations in which she held memberships: “Strauss, Commercial. French; May Festival; Victory Corps; Junior Red Cross.” She was a graduate of Coughlin High School’s Class of 1944. After graduation, she moved to New York City where she attended business college and majored in accounting.

In New York City, “Aunt Marion” cultivated her love as a bookkeeper. As a result, her life’s work whether professionally as an employee in private industry or as a self-employed bookkeeper for private families across the United States, she pursued her profession diligently for over 60 years until her retirement. Also, she served on multiple boards as a treasurer throughout the many states that she called home.

Ms. Patrick's involvement in New York's Harlem society is notable. She was an avid theater goer touting an impressive playbill collection, she was a world traveler possessing music boxes from many countries around the world; she organized and led bus tours to African American museums and community centers throughout the United States for seniors; and she was a member of one of the oldest Black Episcopalian churches in Harlem during the period she resided there serving in personal and professional capacities. As a close family friend described her, “Marion was a BUPPY, a young upwardly mobile Black professional, seen highly amongst Black people as a force to be reckoned with. These characteristics are her accolades that we must share with each other.” (Patterson, 2023).

Spending time with family was always important to Ms. Patrick. Spoiling her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children was her favorite pastime. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by brothers, Lawrence Patrick, Louis Patrick, Robert Smith, sister, Lorraine Smith and godson, William Smith, Jr. Surviving are sisters, Bernice Cross (99), West Covina, California; Mary Ellen Smith (89), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; goddaughters, Audra Bey-Smith, Roberta N. (Smith) Nesbitt and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great-great nieces, great-great nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 26, 2024, from 5-7 p.m., and the Homegoing Service afterwards with Pastor James Breese at Kniffen O’Malley Leffler Funeral & Cremation Services, 465 South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Committal is scheduled Saturday, January 27, 2024, 10 a.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery. Online condolences can be left at KniffenFuneralHome.com.

At the request of the family, a live stream will be available at 7 p.m. on Friday at Kniffen’s Facebook page.