MELINA FRANCES PATRICK
Melina Frances Patrick, 78, of Chico, California passed away on May 16, 2022, after an 11-year odyssey with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Fran was born on February 12, 1944, to Melina and Nelson Cox in Tucson, Arizona. Her childhood was rich with adventure as her Air Force family moved frequently, inspiring Fran’s lifelong curiosity about the stories of the people and places around her. After graduating from Highlands High school in Sacramento in the Spring of 1962, she enrolled at Chico State to study Nursing.
She began her career as a Registered Nurse at American River Hospital in Sacramento, and continued for the next 30 years, working as a public health nurse with Sacramento and Butte Counties, a school nurse at Las Plumas High School in Oroville, and a special education nurse for the Butte County Office of Education and Chico Unified School District. Fran was an active member of The National Association of School Nurses and the California School Nurses Organization.
Fran met her future spouse, Bill Patrick, at Chico State. They were married in 1965 and have two daughters, Jenny and Tracy. Her parents predeceased Fran. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, her children Tracy Patrick and Jenny Firth (Brian), grandchildren Margaret Sauer (Julia),
Anna Firth, and Will Firth, and her brother Dale Cox (Lydia).
Fran will be remembered for her kindness and generosity, love of family and pets, and her passion for her career in nursing.
In the early 2000s, Fran retired to spend more time with family, grandchildren, and her beloved dog, Jake. Fran was a member of the Paradise Genealogical Society and lived a life rich with family stories and genealogical research. An avid reader and writer, Fran enjoyed OLLI classes, and theater performances, and was always ready to share a good book or family story.
The family is grateful for the exceptional care provided by Butte Home Health and longtime aide, Gloria Delgadillo, Dr. Joel Rothfeld and Amy Rothfeld, RD, Amber Grove Place staff, including Brenda Reitz, Lori Whitburn, Tracy Hoffman, and Lynn Gutierrez, as well as Enloe Hospice.
There will be a celebration of Fran’s life at a future date. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, or to one’s favorite charity.