CUNDY’S HARBOR — Patricia J. Watkins was born on Sept. 17, 1948, to Eugenia and Joseph Cussano in Yonkers, New York. She attended parochial and public schools in Yonkers and Pleasantville, New York, graduating from Pleasantville High School in 1966. In 1971, Patricia earned her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority, the intercollegiate swim team (breast stroke, free style and butterfly), and the varsity cheerleading squad.

Patricia served as a high school teacher (English, French, and Spanish) in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Massachusetts and South Carolina. After concluding her full-time teaching career, Patricia moved permanently to Maine and became a flight attendant with American Airlines. When her airline schedule permitted she worked as a substitute teacher at Brunswick and Mt. Ararat High Schools and as an aerobics instructor for Maine Pines. Patricia retired from American in 2011 but continued substituting at the high schools and Maine Pines. During the summers she volunteered as an usher for the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick.

Patricia, whose appetite for activity was insatiable, enjoyed skiing, kayaking and motor boating, bicycling, tennis, hiking and a glass of quality Pinot Noir at the end of the day.

Fiercely competitive, and possessed of an indomitable will, she was unable to beat the last challenger that stormed into her arena. Not just a nonsmoker, but a never smoker, she was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2013. Patricia fought the disease heroically but lost the bout on May 9, 2015.

Patricia is survived by her high school classmate husband John, her son and daughter-in-law Jason and Kristy of Weston, Massachusetts, granddaughters Sofia and Lucia, grandson Jonah, her brother, Kevin, of San Diego, California, and her mother-in-law, Alice, of Brunswick.

A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held at her residence at a date to be determined. For those who wish, donations may be made to CHANS in Brunswick.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.FuneralAlternatives.ne t.

Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives, 8 Pleasant St., Brunswick.