Mildred Patricia Zaskalicky (nee Clerk), age 97, entered peacefully into rest on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Suffield House in Suffield, CT. She was lovingly known to family and friends as Aunt Pat, Patricia and Pat. She was affectionately called “Patsy” and “Babe” by her beloved late husband, Michael (Mike) Francis Zaskalicky, who predeceased her in Jan. 2019.
Pat was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on Oct. 25, 1926 and raised in St. Andrew. She lived with her parents, siblings and extended family while growing up and continued to have close relationships with them throughout their lives.
Her love of music began at an early age. Pat was an award-winning piano player before reaching her teens and a skilled violinist, often playing duets with childhood friends. She also had a passion for photography, developing her photos with sister Doss in a darkroom they built in their backyard on Retirement Cres. in Jamaica. During her later years in the United States, Pat would continue to masterfully play the piano, including duets in the living room with her soulmate, who she married earlier in 1954 in Little Narrows, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Pat attended school in Jamaica, graduating at the Senior Cambridge level under the British system. As a young lady, she embarked on a career as a stenographer.
Always known for her musical and creative gifts, Pat’s artistic genius blossomed further after retirement. Her entire family treasures many paintings and sketches she created with so much talent, passion, and love. Several members of Pat’s family were well known for their abilities across artistic genres. This includes her father, Leslie “Daddy” Clerk, one of Jamaica’s finest sculptors, whose works have been displayed in galleries in Jamaica, in the United States and toured across Europe.
Like her husband, Pat had a terrific sense of humor. In her youth, she kept friends in stitches of laughter. This continued into her adult years, although with a twinkle in her eye and a soft, beautiful smirk, she would often allow her lovingly extroverted husband to be the center of attention.
Pat loved playing golf and traveling. In addition to many trips by plane with friends, she and Mike would often drive to Ontario to visit their Canadian relatives. Those annual journeys were times of love, laughter and magical memories. She also cherished time with her family in the United States and loved them deeply.
Pat enjoyed spending time outdoors. She and Mike adored their beautiful garden full of roses, Mandevillas and other gorgeous flowers, many of which were pink, Pat’s favorite color. Some of Daddy’s sculptures created in Jamaica were also displayed in Pat and Mike’s garden.
A woman of deep faith, Pat was the daughter of the late Leslie and Beryl “Mama” Clerk (Lightbourn). She was predeceased by all her siblings, Dorothy “Doss” Payne (Sydney), Olga “Ollie” Forbes and John Clerk. She is survived by nieces and nephews Nancy Geissler (Jim), John Cook (Gwen), Liz Sansom (Doug), Laura Cook, and Thomas Cook (Mikki) in the U.S., and in Canada by Teri Boone (Bill), Gary Payne, Andre Payne (Jacque), John Forbes; great-nieces and great-nephews Christine Payne (Randy), Jennifer Payne (Joel), Leslie Forbes (Kevin), David Payne (Deanna), Tim Boone, Mike Boone (Deanna), Jeff Payne (Diana), and Christian Forbes (Kim); and five great-great nieces and five great-great nephews. Pat was the loving Godmother to Dorothy Patricia Bates Floro. She will be dearly missed by the friends she loved like family, including Gina (Cicone) Macleay, Lisa and Linda Cicone. Pat was a longtime resident of Lutherville, MD before relocating to Suffield, closer to family, following her husband’s passing.
Pat’s family would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at Suffield House, who cared for Pat with so much love and compassion in her final years.
May Pat rest in God’s peace. She is now reunited with her devoted “Mickey,” tending to God’s garden, and will be lovingly remembered whenever family and friends see a beautiful rose.
Pat will be laid to rest alongside her lifelong love, Mike, in the Zaskalicky family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Shelton, CT, on Thursday, May 16, 2024, following her graveside service at 10:30 AM. Condolences can be left for the family at www.riverviewfh.com.
