Patricia Cook

Patricia Ann Cook “Patty” passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 93 on September 23, 2023. Born on May 17, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alan and Marcella Egide, Patty was the eldest of seven children. 

In 1948 she met the love of her life, John Cook, and they married the following year. After having four of their five children, she attended and received her teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. They then moved to Riverside, California in 1960. In 1970, they moved to Thousand Oaks, California and she continued to teach in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. Patty taught kindergarten at Manzanita Elementary School for 15 years until her retirement in 1985. Patty was a passionate and driven educator. While most women during the 1950’s were housewives tending to the family, Patty pursued her masters degree from the University of Redlands while teaching and raising her family. No small feat for any person, but unheard of for a woman during that time.  Even after her retirement, she served as a substitute teacher for many years. She was a true advocate for learning and recognizing the students as individuals; she utilized many different techniques to reach even the most challenging students. 

Upon her retirement, she and John followed one of their passions of traveling. Patty and John cruised the country in a small motorhome for many years, visiting friends and family. As long as there were no high mountain passes to go over they went anywhere, from Alaska to Baja. Her fear of heights was put to the test when John insisted they go over the Berthod Pass; she said “never again” after that trip! She was an active member, and at one point Chapter President, of the Conejo Valley Women’s Club. Patty was also a Lector and Eucharistic Minister for Saint Paschal Baylon Church for many years. One of her favorite hobbies and passions was creating beautiful pieces of art. Most notably, she honed her craft of painting and loved adding her signature naked French women, cats and dogs in every painting she made. She was an amazing sculptor and loved making small clay holiday decorations. If you had the privilege of being taught by Patty in the classroom, you always left with a handmade clay Christmas tree or jack-o-lantern. 

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who knew more football stats and trivia than Patty. She was a football enthusiast who loved watching and cheering for the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (though mainly Brett Favre).

Patty was an adoring mother of her five children, Colleen, Jack, Debbie, David (wife Kathy), and Mary; doting grandmother of four, John (wife Stephanie), Chrissy (husband Ben), Kyle (wife Adrianna), and Laura; and great-grandmother of four boys, John, Barrit, Otto, and Casey. 

An exceptional hostess, cook, and baker; she was most notorious for her jokes and one liners that always left her home filled with love and laughter.

Patty will be remembered for her strength, sense of humor, infectious laughter, artistic nature, and ability to light up any room. Patty was preceded in death by her loving husband, John, and their daughter, Debbie.

Please tell someone a good joke to share a laugh in honor of Patty, or share it amongst friends and family at her celebration of life which will be held at Saint Paschal Baylon Church, 155 E Janss Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Reception to follow in the hall. 

A special thanks from the family to Mission Hospice nurses Kristen, Danielle, and Cyndee, and social worker Helen for their loving care of Patty in her final days.