Patsy Sheehan

Patsy Sheehan passed away peacefully on October 7, 2025, surrounded by her family and her devoted “granddog” Miles. With the help of Talbot Hospice, she was able to depart this life gracefully at home as she had wished. Patsy was born on September 22, 1935, in Franklin, WV, the eldest daughter of Elmer and Shirley Hartman’s six children. Her older brother, Eugene Wilson Hartman and her sister Nancy Louise Cannon preceded her in death. She is survived by brother Delano Wayne Hartman and sisters Judy Diane Ratcliffe and Jo Ann Harrington. After graduating from Franklin High School in 1953 as class Vice President and valedictorian, Patsy attended Maryland Medical Secretarial School in Hagerstown MD to prepare for her career as a medical secretary and transcriptionist. After beginning work in Washington DC, she met and married Benjamin Franklin Reading in 1956. Over two decades they lived in Northern Virginia and raised their three daughters Pamela Reading (William Denman), Jacqueline Yeatman (Gary) and Helen Reading. Following Benjamin’s untimely death, she married John J. Sheehan and welcomed his four children--Jennifer, John Jr., Jacqueline and Judy--into her family. Patsy and John spent their married life in Maryland, Delaware and southwest Florida, but no matter where she lived Patsy delighted in beautifying her surroundings by sewing clothes and home furnishings and tending her ornamental gardens. Throughout her life, Patsy enjoyed creative pursuits including painting, crafts, and particularly crochet and needlework, and created many handcrafted treasures her family will cherish. She loved to read, play card and board games, and work crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She nurtured innumerable cats and dogs over the years, enjoyed watching birds, and even raised monarch butterflies on her porch. Patsy is survived by her husband, John, her daughters, stepdaughters, and stepson, as well as 14 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. It is a special blessing that she was able to fully participate in a lively celebration of her 90th birthday with her large and loving family shortly before her passing. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Talbot Hospice https://talbothospice.org/ whose staff provided loving care through her final journey.

Patsy Sheehan

September 22, 1935 - October 7, 2025