Patricia Kakstis

Patricia Kakstis passed away peacefully at her home in Beach Haven New Jersey on February 28, 2021.  She fought a courageous 7-year battle with breast cancer. She was known as “Pat, Patti, Nan, Aunt Pat, Ciocia, Nurse Pat” and was a beautiful person both inside and out. She was a wonderful wife, loving mother and grandmother who devoted her life to the care of the poor and underprivileged. She grew up in Elizabeth NJ and was the daughter of Martin and Anne Coyne. She later lived in Mercer County NJ before retiring to her summer home in Beach Haven.

After graduating from St. Mary’s High School, she received degrees in Nursing from St. Peter’s School of Nursing, and advanced nursing degrees from the College of New Jersey and Rutgers University. She enjoyed all aspects of nursing, however mental health was her calling.  She worked at Capital Health Care, St. Francis, the Family Guidance Center, Ocean Mental Health and a private psychiatric practice. She helped create the charitable clinic, Coastal Volunteers in Medicine where she was Vice Chair and where she provided mental health services to the underprivileged and uninsured.

Patti will be lovingly remembered by her husband Donald, her daughters Jennifer Pogyor and Alison Krisak, their husbands Bob and Todd, and her grandchildren Jack, Joe (Bubba) and Olivia, who were the joy of her life. Family was very important to Patti and she spent many fun filled moments with her sister Anne Marie Sullivan and her brother-in-law Danny, her nieces Diane, Dawn and Doreen, their husbands and children, cousins and friends on Long Beach Island. Summers were the happiest of times with family and friends including the pet dogs who followed her from room to room looking for a treat.  She was always willing to listen, quick to laugh and bring a smile to everyone, Patti loved the beach, crossword puzzles, trivial pursuit, cooking, dancing, and traveling the world.

With respect for the health of her friends and the restrictions of the Corona Virus, visit will be only for the immediate family at the Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home, 573 Mill Creek Road, Manahawkin NJ.

Everyone whose life Patti has lovingly touched is invited to attend her funeral mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Brant Beach, NJ 08008, 11 AM, Saturday March 6, 2021. A celebration of Patti’s remarkable life will be held at a later date for all to attend.

In lieu of flowers please send a donation in Patti’s name to Coastal Volunteers in Medicine, PO Box 99, Manahawkin NJ 08050 or on their web site www.coastal vim.org /donate . It is one of her greatest legacies.

The care of the poor was always foremost to Patti and her life’s devotion to Nursing is best described by the lyrics of a song “Not Too Far From Here”:

“ Somebody’s down to their last dime

Somebody’s running out of time

Not too far from here

Somebody’s got nowhere else to go

Somebody needs a little hope

Not too far from here

Somebody’s troubled and confused

Somebody’s got nothing left to lose

Not too far from here

Somebody’s forgotten how to trust

And somebody’s dying for love

Not too far from here

Now I am letting down my guard

And I am opening my heart

Help me speak your love to every needful ear

Someone is waiting not too far from here”