Patricia A. Zuffante, 73, of Braintree, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2024, after a courageous four-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Pat was the daughter of the late Vincent J. Zuffante and Mary (Byrne) Zuffante of Braintree. She was the former wife of the late Joseph E. Daru of Braintree. She was also the life partner for 33 years to the late Sheila A. Fordham of Braintree.

Patricia was the loving mother of Darcie L. Daru-Young of Braintree and her former son-in-law, Robert A. Young of Weymouth. She is survived by her beloved grandchildren, Mary C. Young of Weymouth, Daniel J. and Vincent D. Young of Braintree, her brother Vincent M. Zuffante and his wife Eileen (Wilson) Zuffante of Middleboro, and her sister Anne Marie (Zuffante) Canty and her husband Joseph Canty of NH; 3 nieces, 1 nephew and many cousins.

Patricia was born in Dorchester and raised in the Braintree Highlands. She attended Braintree schools and graduated from Braintree High School in 1968. She earned an associate’s degree in computer science from Newbury College. She worked for State Street and Citi Street in the corporate office, ING as a project manager, and Voya Financial as a web developer. She retired in 2015.

Pat got the travel bug in 1971, at the Milwaukee Summerfest she attended while traveling with Goodings Midway. During her life she visited 36 states and 9 countries, by land, air, and sea, all but two with her partner Sheila. Pat loved the Red Sox and baseball, a sport she learned from her father who was a Little League coach and umpire. She was an artist working in ink, oil, and watercolor. She loved to read and even wrote a few memoirs about family members. She won trophies playing pool in a league, of which she was very proud. She was also an avid gardener who loved her flower garden.

Patricia was a caring, compassionate woman, who cared for her aging parents and also regularly visited two of her aunts who lived in nursing homes. Pat also cared for an ailing neighbor as well as the neighbor’s disabled daughter. Pat continued to visit her late aunt’s roommate, “Miss Jessie,” several times a week until Jessie passed away, while at the same time caring for her own partner, Sheila, who suffered a long illness. She brought comfort to many.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a visitation from 9-10 am on Friday, June 28th at McMaster Funeral Home, 86 Franklin Street, Braintree. A funeral mass will follow at 10:30 am at the Church of St. Clare, 1244 Liberty Street, Braintree.

Donations in her memory may be made to The NVNA and Hospice, 120 Longwater Drive, Norwell MA 02061.