The beacons that have guided Patricia's life are the family values she learned as a child: God, Family, Education. Patty graduated from Queen Peace Parish School (1963), Bishop McDevitt High School (1967), and Fitzgerald Mercy Medical Center School for Nursing (1970) with credits from St. Joseph's University.
She met her future husband Larry Taylor when they were both students at St. Joes. There were married in October 1971 and will celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2021.
Patty began her nursing career in high school as a 'candy striper' volunteer at Holy Redeemer Hospital. This experience inspired her to be become a nurse an specialize in pediatric care. After earning her degree in nursing, she worked in the pediatric intensive care unit at Einstein in Philadelphia. When they relocated because of Larry's job, Patty worked in pediatrics at the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and at the St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Tragically, Patty and Larry's early attempts to start a family ended in three miscarriages so she put her nursing career on hold to concentrate on having children. She soon gave birth four to very small but healthy daughters. Caring for them gave Patty the confidence to begin another career of service for needy children. For the next 26 years Patty fostered and cared for many fragile infants through the Catholic Social Agency of the Allentown Diocese and the through the Diakon Agency.
Pat and Larry were selected by the March of Dimes to represent that organization's mission, 'Achieving the Dream - Happy, Healthy Children' in 1992 and in 1996 they were selected the Adoptive Family of the Year through the PA State-Wide Adoption Network.
Patty treasures the family values she learned as a child and thanks God daily for allowing her to do such important work with these medically needed children. She says 'If I teach my children anything, I hope it is to love and care for others.'