Patricia Frankenbach Andersen, beloved wife of Erling F. Andersen of Madison, died peacefully on April 23 at her home. Pat was born in Southampton, New York, in 1930, daughter of William August and Leona Winifred Frankenbach. She graduated from Southampton High School, and then attended Florida Southern College. Following college, she worked for the Bell Telephone Company before marrying in 1953. She and her husband resided in Baltimore, Maryland, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Westport, before retiring to Madison.

Known to her friends as Pat, she was a steadfast Christian and enjoyed travel, gardening, and cooking. She raised her four children with an embracing love and devotion. Pat was a mentor to many of her friends, who were warmly received into her hospitable home. Considered by many to be the definition of “grace,” her example of strong religious commitment changed the lives of many around her.

Pat was a member of the Encore Club and was a regular attendee of the exercise classes at the Madison Senior Center.

The most important things in Pat’s life were her family, friends, and faith. She was active both at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Darien, as well as Grace Episcopal Church in Old Saybrook. At Grace Episcopal, she was a member of the vestry and was in charge of the Pastoral Care and Healing Commission. She led retreats and was a member of prayer teams, ministering to people in need.

She is survived by her four children, Diane Andersen Armstrong and her husband Deane, Dawn Andersen Boutilier and her husband Mark, James Andersen, and Chris Andersen and his wife Jill; six grandchildren, Jason Armstrong and wife Kate, James Armstrong and wife Allison, Catherine Andersen, Emica Boutilier, Gregory Andersen, and Breanne Boutilier; and a great-granddaughter, Leah Armstrong. She was predeceased by her sister Gloria Joy and her brother William.

Services will be held on June 15, at 11 a.m., at Grace Episcopal Church in Old Saybrook.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church Rectors’ Fund in Old Saybrook, or to the Connecticut Hospice in Branford.