Mary Patricia Ward, 100 of Poughkeepsie, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025 at Hudson Valley Hospice House. Born in Eddyville, NY on June 1, 1925, she was the daughter of Lawrence and Catherine Mooney Oliva.
Pat received her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from  Adelphi University and later attended Russell Sage College. She was employed as a school nurse for Arlington School District and later as a teacher at Beekman Elementary School. Upon retirement Mary volunteered at Vassar Hospital.
She married Joseph Ward at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls. Joseph predeceased her in 1996. Pat was a former member of Grand Harbor Golf Club, Vero Beach, a former member of Dutchess Golf and Country Club and an honorary member of the Poughkeepsie Tennis Club. She belonged to the Retired Arlington Teachers Association, the NYS United Teachers Association and the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Auxiliary where she served several terms on the Board of Directors.
Pat is survived by her 4 children: Brian (Roberta) Ward, Barry (Paula Martinelli) Ward, Jaye Anne (Angelo) Mecca and Julie (Robbie) Westergard, her grandchildren : Aaron (Natalie) Ward, Jeremy (Chara) Ward, Chris (Nina)Ward, Matt (Tina) Ward, Paul (Kara) Bucher, Nick (Katie) Bucher, Tim (Amelia) Bucher, Katie (Brian) De Angelo and Frank Cornell: great grandchildren: Sydney and Lincoln Ward , Kalia and Kelsey Ward, Brayden and Leila Ward, Ruby and Hadley Ward, Sophia and Paul Bucher, Emmie Bucher, Oliver Bucher and Jack and Eva DeAngelo. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother Dr. L. Jay Oliva, President Emeritus of New York University, her daughter in law, Eileen Ward and great grandson Mason Nicholas Bucher.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 28 from 4-7 pm at Parmele, Auchmoody & Schoonmaker Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Ave., Poughkeepsie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am on Wednesday, October 29 from Church of the Holy Trinity, 775 Main St. Poughkeepsie. Entombment will follow in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Church of the Holy Trinity or a charity of choice.