Patricia Ellen Phares was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1928. Her family soon moved to New Jersey in the 1930s. Pat loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She worked after school in a chocolate shop and taught Sunday School on weekends. Her talent and passion for drawing and painting resulted in her attending the Art Career School New York in 1946, where she met her future husband, Hugh Phares, a WWII veteran studying art on the GI Bill. After they graduated they started building their family in Stelton, NJ as Hugh started his own graphic design firm. Pat helped Hugh with design projects and bookkeeping while working from home and raising her two boys, Rand and Marc. In 1958 they moved to Mendham, NJ, where they later welcomed their baby girl (surprise!), Holly.
Pat and Hugh yearned to move to a more rural setting which led them to the charming town of Tewksbury, NJ, where they bought 24 acres and custom built their home. They were ahead of their time developing their interest in vegetable gardening, healthy organic foods, nutrition and beekeeping. A daughter-in-law’s allergy to cow’s milk inspired Pat to build a herd of 33 Nubian goats. Pat loved all animals, from birds to owls to bats but especially her Britainy Spaniel and Golden Retriever dogs and her beloved goats.
When their three children graduated from college Pat and Hugh decided to scale down and move to Bucks County, PA. Picking up her paint brushes again after many years, Pat built a small studio and started creating many stunning watercolor paintings. She soon joined four local women artists and they would gather together and paint.
Eventually Pat sold off the last of her herd of Nubians. Over the next two decades Pat and Hugh built and sold a number of real estate properties in Bucks County. Pat loved the process of managing the construction projects. They lived their final years together in Tinicum and then New Hope until Hugh passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2012.
Pat remained in New Hope until her own health issues required her to transfer to Neshaminy Manor Nursing Home in Warrington, PA. She was beautifully cared for by their excellent staff to the very end.
Patricia will be greatly missed and is survived by her beloved family members: son, Marc Phares (wife Diane); Kathy Phares, wife of deceased son, Rand; daughter Holly Phares; grandchildren Craig Phares (wife Meghan Gerrity); Meredith Lovera (husband Sebastian), Steven Phares (wife Amanda); Andrea Willams (husband Keith) and 10 great-grandchildren, whom she cherished.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home in Doylestown, PA. There will be a gathering from 11:00-11:45 am with a service to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any who wish to honor Patricia’s life kindly share their donations to The Seeing Eye (www.seeingeye.org) or The Humanity Gifts Registry (www.hgrpa.org) where she has donated her remains to science.
Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com
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