Obituary of Patricia Isaksen

     Patricia (Patty) went home to be with Jesus on April 13, 2021.  She died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Summerville, SC with her husband Steve and dog Gracie.  She was 72 years old.

     Patty was born on September 3rd,1948 in Yonkers, NY to parents Thomas and Dorothy Mollicone.  She grew up in a blended family with brothers James (deceased), Thomas, and Nicholas, and sisters Carol and Christine.

     She was married 3 times.  Her first marriage was to Ray Douglas, and this marriage produced her only 2 children: Dr. Ray T. Douglas MD of Milton, PA, and Donald R. Douglas of Unionville, CT.  Her second marriage was to Thomas Hawke and ended when he took his own life due to mental issues.  Patty's 3rd marriage, from June 25th, 1995 until her death, was to Stephen (Steve) Isaksen, and lasted for over 25 years.  Steve and Patty were inseparable soul-mates, and they did everything together.  Patty was primarily responsible for Steve going to church and accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  Steve taught Patty how to play golf, sail a boat, and catch fish and crabs. 

     While married to her 1st husband, Ray, he joined the Marine Corps and their first duty assignment in 1965 was Camp Lejeune, NC.  While stationed there Patty was poisoned by contaminated water from chemicals that were dumped in the ground repeatedly for almost 40 years.  There were 2 sources of these toxic chemicals: the on-base motorpool vehicle fluids (like anti-freeze, motor oil, and brake fluid), and a dry cleaner located just outside the base fencing (dropping chemicals like benzene) - both were adjacent to the housing area Patty lived in.  The Marine Corps knew about these chemicals but did nothing to stop or contain them until the mid-1980's.  Patty suffered with cancer for over 40 years from having drank, bathed-in, and cooked with this contaminated water.  Ultimately, she died from this cancer she battled, going through things that at times were horrific, like: blood-washing, radiation, harsh chemotherapies, and a stem-cell transplant.  Her suffering from this cancer, called: Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma-Sezary Syndrome, was immense.  Through husband Steve's efforts and political connections, U.S. Congress House Resolution HR6204: Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2020, was drafted with equal bi-partisan support, to offer some sort of compensation from the Federal Government for being liable for infecting thousands of people (many of which are now dead).  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to refuse to bring HR6204 to the floor for a vote, and doesn't offer an explanation.  Patty attempted to sue the Federal Government in 1999, but it was refused because back then you couldn't sue the Federal Government.  HR6204 allows the Federal Government to be sued, AND, admits the Federal Government is liable for the multitude of cancers caused by this contaminated water.

     Patty was blessed with 5 grandchildren: Abigail, Daniel, Eliza, Jack, and Thomas.  She lived for these grandkids, especially while they were young, and visited them frequently where they lived in PA and CT.  She loved them all equally, and appreciated them for their uniqueness.

     She worked for the State of New York as a receptionist for 20 years, got vested, then retired from this job - they blessed her by keeping her employed through a lot of cancer and health issues.  She also raised her 2 sons, almost by herself, during this time as she divorced her first husband while both of her boys were still very young.  Patty worked, when she could, with 2nd husband, Tom, who was a Chem-Pro chemicals distributor to local restaurants in NY, NJ, PA, and CT.  When Tom died unexpectedly, Patty ran the business until she was able to sell it.  When she married Steve, Patty helped him as a part-time merchandiser and Sales Representative, to Military Commissaries in the Northeast.  When she was feeling well, she went with Steve often to his daily sales calls as a Regional Food Broker. Her assistance to Steve in being successful was thorough and extraordinary.  They were a great team, and complimented eachother well.

     Patty-Ann, as Steve lovingly called her, had many and varied interests.  She loved to: cook and bake, sew, play golf, fish and crab, sail, watch The Price Is Right and Blue Bloods, garden, entertain, sing in the church choir, listen to Steve sing and play guitar, read the Bible, shop, play cards with friends, play with her dog Gracie, watch movies, enjoy country music and smooth jazz, decorate, and keep a nice house.  She especially liked to eat, and some of her favorites were: banana bread, pickles, ice, blood oranges, eggplant parmigiana, Chinese and Mexican food, sub sandwiches with extra vinegar, coleslaw, watermelon, lemon ice, Hagen-Daz Coffee ice cream, and Greek Peasant Salads with Italian bread.

     She will be sorely missed by ALL who knew and loved her.

 

     There will be a Memorial Service held in Patty's honor at her church starting at 11:00am  on Saturday, April 24th.  Church info is below:

 

                    Gospel Light Baptist Church

                    8723 Salamander Road

                    North Charleston, SC  29406

                    843-572-9365 

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