Arlene Patuc

Arlene Patuc, 68 of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away at the H. John Heinz III Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center inpatient hospice in Aspinwall, PA on October 22nd after fighting a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

Arlene was born in Uniontown, PA and grew up in Munhall, PA. She graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1976, graduated from Uniontown School of Nursing in 1979 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 1985. She enjoyed “snow birding” to Pittsburgh in the late fall and winter to engage in holiday activities with family and friends.

Arlene was a retired officer with the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. During this time, she graduated from the University of Alaska at Anchorage with a Master of Public Health degree. She worked as a pediatric nurse case manager with Southcentral Foundation and worked in Indian Health for 25 years as a pediatric nurse in the neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU and as the pediatric discharge care coordinator for inpatient pediatrics. Prior to arriving in Alaska, Arlene worked as a traveling pediatric nurse working in 10 pediatric centers throughout the country for over six years. Before traveling, she had worked as a nurse at Children’s Hospital in Oakland for eight years in the neonatal ICU.

She was very talented and excelled in knitting, crocheting, embroidery and especially quilting. She belonged to several quilt guilds and was also involved with creating many quilts for the “Quilt of Valor” Foundation in Anchorage. She also enjoyed traveling extensively around the globe and was always up to seeking a new place to go.

Arlene is survived by her sister Nancy M. Patuc of Munhall and her sweet long-haired Chihuahua, Sophie as well as many special cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, John J. Patuc and Irene E. (Yaniga) Patuc of Munhall.

A memorial mass for Arlene’s life will be held on Saturday, November 14th at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish--St. Therese Church Worship Site at 10 a.m. A luncheon will follow. Location and directions to be provided after the mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Arlene’s memory to one of the following charities:

Little Sisters of the Poor, 1028 Benton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

VAPTH (VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System) GPF Fund 527, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, HJ Heinz Campus, Community Living Center (CLC), Building 51, Voluntary Services, Pittsburgh PA 15215

Bird TLC, 15510 Old Seward Hwy., Anchorage, AK 99516