Obituary of Patricia Ann Andrei

Brewer - Patricia Ann Andrei passed away peacefully on July 10, 2018, at the Brewer Center for Health and Rehabilitation surrounded by her family. She was born in Chelsea, Maine, on 13 May 1933. Her parents were Helen Louise (Tibbetts) and Roy Herbert Chester Bragdon. She was the eldest of four sisters, Eva Hogaboom, Rowena Lyons, and Robena Gordon. Known fondly as “Pat,” she brought into the world eight beautiful children: Debby Degerstrom, Andy (deceased), Carmen Cammack, Timothy, Tamela Proctor, Karen, Michael, and Mary Anne. She loved her children with all her heart. She knew how to love. She was a remarkable mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great, great grandmother.

Pat was a portrait painter and a nursing assistant. She first realized her creative talents as a painter when she and her husband, retired U. S. Air Force Sr. Master Sgt. Gilberto Andrei, were stationed at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. Gil was an Air Force photographer. One day he brought her a black and white portrait of a three-star general and asked her if she thought she could paint a heavy oil portrait using his photograph. He expected her to say, “No,” but without hesitation she agreed. They purchased a canvas, easel, brushes, and paints and with no formal training she created a beautiful painting. They presented the painting to the general and his family. Over the years, she and Gil worked together creating portraits of military officials. While Gil was in the Air Force, they traveled together throughout the world from Maine to Alabama, to Kansas, to Germany and Spain. She met the challenges of Air Force life with great courage and fortitude, as they moved from house to house, country to country. During Gil’s retirement ceremony, the Colonel turned to Pat and said, “You too served your country.” To this day, Gil always says, “Without her, I would have never served 23 years in the Air Force.” Together they received their discharge papers with hearty congratulations.

Pat had many creative talents and hobbies, including crocheting, knitting, and quilting. She loved the natural world and was an avid gardener and bird watcher. Pat also was a skilled bridge player and looked forward to the weekly game with her friends. Sadly, for the past two years, she could no longer play due to a prolonged illness, but she remained close with her many friends who brought her great joy and happiness. Pat was a converted Catholic and was devoted to the church. Her faith never wavered. She and Gil would occasionally lecture together at mass. Later in life, when she could no longer comfortably attend Sunday and weekday masses, she watched a televised Catholic mass every morning. She believed that the purpose of life was to love and to love always. Pat and Gil shared 66 years of marriage. They traveled a long road together and loved one another through the good and bad times. She was fond of saying, "If you see an obstacle in the road, jump over it, and start anew."

She was the bright, shining star in our blue heaven. It was painful for Gil and everyone who loved her to watch her star grow dimmer and dimmer, but the inner glow of her love will live on forever through her steadfast belief in God. How does one tell the long story of 66 years of love? Perhaps, simply: God is love, and love is God.

Family and friends may visit from 5-7 PM Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 69 State St., Brewer.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 AM Thursday, July 12, 2018, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, 425 S. Main St., Brewer. A reception will follow at the Parish center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brewer Public Library. Messages and memories may be shared with her family at kileyandfoley.com