Patricia McCarthy-Schwartz

Patricia Ann McCarthy Schwartz, 75, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2024 at her home in Troy, NY. She was born on September 2, 1949 at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy to the late Charles Edward McCarthy and Virginia Mullins McCarthy. She grew up in Wynantskill, attending St. Jude the Apostle School and graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1967. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in history from Rosary Hill College in 1971 (now Daemen College) and her master’s degree in teaching from The College of St. Rose.

Pat worked as an elementary school teacher at School 12 in the Troy School District for over 40 years, spending much of her career teaching 2nd grade. She loved her students and remembered many of them fondly, well after they left School 12. She also made lifelong friendships with several of her fellow teachers and enjoyed seeing them for a good laugh over monthly dinners in retirement.

Pat was incredibly proud of her Irish heritage and being a McCarthy from Troy. She loved to recount stories about her extended family, including those of days spent with her father's family at Crystal Lake or taking the train to Brooklyn to visit her maternal aunts. Her favorite old stories, though, were the funny things that happened growing up with her parents and her sister, Virginia.

Pat was a news junkie and could easily spend hours watching her favorite political shows or the latest headline grabbing courtroom trials. She kept on top of all of it. She loved annual vacations in Cape Cod, golfing, horses, and a good shopping spree.

Pat maintained a wicked sense of humor through her toughest of days and often said things to cause her companions to blush.

In Pat's words, her greatest achievement in life was her girls, Emily and Anna. She was their "biggest cheerleader." As a single parent for the last 28 years, she instilled in them a strong work ethic, ability to support themselves, and to always take care of each other. They inherited her easy way of taking pleasure in the simple things in life - an ice-cold Diet Coke, Christmas decorations, 1970s music, or a scenic drive in the car. They will carry on the best of her.

Pat is survived by her loving daughters Emily and Anna Schwartz of Troy, NY, best friend and sister, Virginia McCarthy Weiss, and her husband, Raymond, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, and nieces Mary Weiss (Joy Samir Bandyopadhyay) of Abington, Massachusetts and Patricia Weiss of Hyde Park, Massachusetts.

She was predeceased by her parents, Charles E. McCarthy and Virginia Mullins McCarthy, and her husband, Eric Schwartz (WGY's Paul Cassidy).

Pat's family wishes to thank the staff of The Community Hospice, especially Jamie Borge and Lori Cicciari, for their tender care and compassion, and friend MaryLee Nichols for helping to pick us up when we needed it.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Wynantskill Funeral Home, 294 Whiteview Road, Wynantskill. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at St. Jude the Apostle Church 43 Brookside Avenue, Wynantskill. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Troy.

To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.wynantskillfh.com.

In honor of Pat, make sure everything is off in the kitchen before you go to bed and give your mother a hug and a kiss.

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