Patience Verhague

After a long, fearless fight with ovarian cancer, Patience "Pat" L. VerHague, age 68 of Lewiston died Thursday, April 5, 2012, in the loving arms of her devoted husband and her shining star and only child, Christian, in Mt. St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston. Pat was born August 29, 1943 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of the late James and Joan (Stawinsky) Shelton. She was an extremely successful real estate broker and was a top broker for M.J. Peterson in Lockport where she was employed by for 25 years. Pat was a woman of many talents and was named Woman of the Year in Youngstown in 1970. She loved to read and she shared this by reading to library groups of children at Christmas time as well as helping the illiterate and challenged to read. An accomplished cook, Pat had won multiple regional awards for her recipes and cooking classes. She loved to garden and was especially fond of her Easter Lily's and Mother's Day Roses. She is survived by her husband, Gary; her children, Christian Hasselman of Los Angeles, CA, Shane (Cynthia) VerHague of Amherst, NY, and Shelby (Michael) Laspesa of North Tonawanda, NY; her grandchildren, Stephen W., Alexis, Jacob, Andrew Jacob, Haley Rose, and Miranda Grace; a nephew, John Miller. She was predeceased by two brothers, Eugene and Jack Shelton, and a sister, Betty Jean Safee. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 9, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter's RC Church,600 Center St., Lewiston, with the Rev. Michael Zuffoletto officiating. There will be no prior visitation. Entombment will be in Gate Of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston. Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Ovarian Research Dept., PO Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240-9856.