Patricia Anne (Norton) Portanova

Patty was born in Englewood, NJ the youngest child of Al and Anne Norton and their only daughter.  She was a creative and unique child from the start.  Her three brothers, Steve, Kevin and Brian were good influences on Patty and she loved her cat, Ace.

Patty always had the benefit of a broad, extended family with Nana and Nell next door, many cousins and the Zanone family just down Tenafly Road.  Joanne became like a big sister to Patty, guiding her every step of the way.

Patty was a natural at creating friendships.  Her genuine warmth and caring for people enabled her to connect on many levels. From St. Cecilia’s High School, to Boston College where she met her husband Dan in 1981, to White Plains and Ho-Ho-Kus, Patty was everyone’s best friend.  She could speak with people about anything, but mostly it was about Patty’s favorite topic, family.

Patty was an amazing artist and her home is a showcase of her talent. She expanded upon her artistic talent when her former neighbor and employer, Willy Malarcher, had her enroll at the Isabel O’Neil Studio in NY in 1985.  Working with Willy, they helped develop the shrine of Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.  Patty continued taking classes and teaching at the Isabel O’Neil Studio and earned the school’s highest award of Master Craftsman in September 2020. 

Her greatest accomplishments were her three beautiful children, Andrea, Michael and Matthew.  Now, we have an additional family member, Matt’s lovely wife Marion.  Patty’s children are blessed with her smile, her selflessness, her gentleness and compassion, her love of music and of the NY Mets.  She improved everything and everyone around her, whether she was gardening or fixing up her house, sending an Irish soda bread to someone or decorating a birthday cake with a Toy Story character.  She cared about beauty and color, she cared about the details, she sang all the words to a song because she knew every song and she could whistle louder than anyone.  She was fun, intelligent, creative, caring and beautiful inside and out.

Patty was our compass and the person our family followed.  We loved going to Montauk for family vacations and never missed a year.  The serenity, the love of being with family and looking at the stars was magical.  When we go back, Patty will be there, because she is our North Star.

God Bless You

Services:

A visitation will be held on Wednesday May 5, 2021 from 4-8pm at Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ  07481.

The funeral mass is private. A livestream link of the Funeral Mass can be found below (on the morning of the service) and will begin at 10am on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Donations:

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ at www.scnj.org or to the Isabel O’Neil Studio at www.isabeloneil.org.                                                                                                                                                                                                

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