Patricia Rolff

RHINEBECK - Patricia Rolff passed away peacefully in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania on October 21st, 2021. Pat was born in London, England in 1934. As a child, survived the World War Two and the Battle of Britain. She often told stories of the war and sheltering in the Underground. Pat grew up with her brother, Budge who survives her.

After the war, Pat became a Stewardess with B.O.A.C., now British Airways. It was a time of elegance in air travel, and she was quite suited to the role of hosting, helping, serving, and ensuring passengers on the 16-hour Atlantic crossings were comfortable. In New York, she met, and married her first husband, Dr. Ira Wender. She emigrated to the United States in 1957 while continuing to work for the airlines New York office. They had one son, Ian who survives them both.

Pat was married to Howard Dinsmore in 1971. She moved to Pawling, New York with Howard and his four daughters, Karen, Gail, Cathy, and Mary where they built a home on Quaker Hill. Together with Howard, she had a son, Adam who survives along with his wife, Jennifer, and Pat’s Granddaughter, Ahna.

Pat became a Naturalized US Citizen in 1976. She often described how proud she was of this. Her love of her home country, England never diminished, but she loved the United States and took pride in all that it stood for. One would always find the American Flag and the Union Jack correctly displayed outside of her home. She had a career as a Professional Secretary with both the Pawling School system, and with the Peale Center for Christian Living.

In 1983, Pat met and married Frank Rolff. Frank brought his daughters, Barbara and Karen, and his son Fred into the family, all of whom survive. Frank and Pat were a match made in heaven and enjoyed a long, loving relationship until Frank’s death in 2018. They enjoyed their retirement in Rhinebeck filled with volunteer positions at The Franklin Delano Roosevelt home and Library in Hyde Park where Mum, as she was affectionately called, served over twenty years as a Volunteer Park Ranger with the National Park Service. In retirement, Pat and Frank enjoyed travel to Oregon to spend time with their daughter, Cathy Penni and her husband, Doug. They enjoyed adventures to Maryland to visit daughter, Barbara Ferger and her husband, Ronald, and to spend time with their grandson Kevin Ferger, his wife Suzy, and great grandchildren, Cole, and Rory.

Pat’s children, grandchildren, and friends will celebrate her life at the St. John’s Reformed Church in Upper Red Hook, NY starting at 9:30am on April 30th.  Family and friends are welcome to join in continuing the celebration of Pat’s life in placing her ashes next to her beloved Frank.  Pat loved the spring time and sharing her gardening with guests and passersby.  For planning purposes, please be so kind as to RSVP to  adinsmore1@gmail.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 W. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.dapsonchestney.com

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