Obituary of Patricia E. Soltys

Webster - Patricia E. (Pepka) Soltys, 78, formerly of Whitcomb Street and Morris Street in Webster. She passed peacefully on Friday, November 23 at the Christopher House in Worcester, MA. Her husband of 15 years Edward Soltys, passed away in 1976. Patricia leaves 4 children, Michael Soltys of Rutland, Sandra Soltys of Oxford, David Soltys and his wife Kerry of Worcester and Stephen Soltys and his wife Kim of Thompson, CT. Very special to her heart were her 9 grandchildren Angela, John, Freeman, Amy, Sarah, Emily, Allison, Edward and Amelia. Patricia was born and raised in Dudley, the daughter of the late Joseph and Eleanor (Tokarz) Pepka. Patricia enjoyed her early childhood in the Oxford Avenue and Green Street (Jericho) area of Dudley before moving to Schofield Avenue of Dudley. When she married Edward, they lived in Webster where she resided the majority of her life. She is survived by her brother Joseph Pepka of Easthampton, her sister Mary (Pepka) Carroll and husband Francis Carroll of Worcester and her sister-in-law Helen Proulx of Franklin, NH. She is predeceased by her brother Thomas of Eastlake, OH. Patricia attended St. Joseph Grammar School of Webster, Dudley Junior High School of Dudley and graduated from Bartlett High School in 1951. She pursued her career at The Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Worcester and graduated 1954. For over 40 years, nursing was her passion and it was extremely important to our Mom as she mentored relatives and friends in their nursing careers. As a Registered Nurse, she worked at Memorial Hospital for a number of years before building, developing and managing the Eastwood Manor Nursing Home in Webster with her husband Edward in 1966. Patricia then joined Hubbard Hospital in Webster in 1968. She served in many capacities at Hubbard Hospital including the opening of the Hospital Chapel and developing the Patient Advocate program. Patricia was a long standing member of the Hospital's Executive Team and was the Hospital's Director of Nurses, a role she was dedicated to for over 25 years before retiring in 1997. Mom greatest pride was with raising four children while maintaining her career at Hubbard Hospital after the passing of her husband Edward. She appreciated all of the support from her loving family and friends during these challenging times as a single parent. She also had a deep passion and love for all her grandchildren as they brought a smile to her face each and every day that she saw them and with every picture that we showed her as they were growing up. She loved reading romantic novels, crocheting, watching her soap operas and after we taught her the game of football, the Patriots. Mom was a proud member of St. Joseph Basilica, St. Joseph Polish Woman's Club, Holy Rosary Sodality, the soup kitchen at Church of Reconciliation, Samaritan Health & Homecare Board of Directors, and the Southern Worcester County Serra Club. In 1991, she was the Webster, Dudley, Oxford Woman of the Year. The Soltys family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude and thanks to the staff at the Putnam Unit of Christopher House in Worcester as well as the Jewish Hospice Group of Worcester for the compassionate care that they gave to our Mom. Her funeral will be held Wednesday November 28 from Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, 33 Schofield Avenue, Dudley with a Mass at 10 AM in St. Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street, Webster. Calling hours will be on Tuesday November 27 from 4 to 7pm. A graveside service will be held privately at a future date at St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery in Webster. In lieu of flowers, one of Mom's final requests is that all Remembrances go to the Serra Club C/O S.Kohut, 29 Slater St., Webster, MA. 01570. Mom loved and was so very proud of this group and the people associated with it.