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Vail Daily obituary: Patricia O’Brien Frechette, 1938-2016

Patricia O’Brien Frechette died Sept. 7, 2016, at age 78, of complications from a stroke. She passed peacefully with her family at her side. Pat was born on March 11, 1938, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to Perry and Alicia (Sexton) O’Brien and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin. She graduated from The University of Wisconsin Madison in 1960 with a degree in education.

In 1961, she married her high school sweetheart, Pete Frechette and taught elementary school. They lived in several cities before settling in Glencoe, Illinois, where they raised their twin daughters. In 1983, the family relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in 1999, they began to call Beaver Creek their second home.

Pat led a full and active life. She was very involved in both the Minneapolis and Vail Valley communities. Pat was passionate about and committed to supporting education. Together with her husband, she supported many organizations including Colonial Williamsburg, University of St. Catherine, Marquette University, Roundup River Ranch, Walking Mountains Science Center and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens to name a few.

Pat was devoted to her family and loved gardening. She cultivated the most beautiful gardens at her homes. She especially enjoyed sharing good food and socializing with family and friends. She and her husband, Pete, spent many summers in the Vail Valley enjoying Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the Vail International Dance Festival and the Vail Jazz Festival. Family and friends will miss her warm smile and zest for life.

She leaves her beloved husband of 55 years, Pete; her daughters Kathy Tenhula (Peter) of Alexandria, Virginia, and Kristy Woolfolk (Bill) of Hinsdale, Illinois; and her grandchildren Grace, Claire and Tom Tenhula and Tucker and Spencer Woolfolk. She is predeceased by her father and mother, Perry and Alicia O’Brien, her sister Mary O’Brien and her brother George O’Brien.

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Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis. The Rev. John Bauer will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Visitation will be at the Basilica at 10 a.m. prior to the Mass. A private family interment will be held at a later date. Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pat’s name to the Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Research Fund at http://www.angiopathy.org/support.html.


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