Patricia "Pat" Ann (Murray) Lemeshka

Pat was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the daughter of the late Pat and Mike Murray. She was raised on Smith Hill and in Breakwater Village, Narragansett and attended St. Casmir’s School and St. Patrick’s High School. Pat graduated from Rhode Island College with her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and earned her Master’s Degree in Middle School Education from Brenau University. She won multiple Teacher of the Year awards, was named a Presidential Award Winning Science Teacher, was a highly regarded mentor to new teachers, and a graduate of NASA’s Teacher in Space Program. Her students often recalled lessons in building skeletons and exploring space and Pat spent many years teaching Science to gifted youth. She retired from teaching in 2001, after many years at Buffington Elementary, E.T. Booth, and Woodstock Middle Schools in Cherokee County (GA), Omega Learning Center in Acworth, the Steward School in Richmond, Virginia, a parochial school in Indiana, and the Horgan School in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Pat loved summers at the beach and any time of year playing the slot machines. She enjoyed traveling with her family and friends and welcomed any opportunity to host a tea party at her home in Acworth, Georgia. After being diagnosed with cancer in 1990, Pat became an active advocate for cancer patients all over the country. She was a volunteer of the Winship Cancer Center of Emory University and an Ambassador for the LiveStrong Foundation. Pat provided inspiration to countless others diagnosed with cancer, by demonstrating that it was possible to LIVE an active and positive life, in spite of cancer. She often made calls and had meetings with newly diagnosed cancer patients and reminded them that they could fight the disease successfully. She would often recall that she had been told over twenty years ago that she had six months to live. Her courageous battle of nearly 25 years, ended with dignity on December 31st at the age of 64. Pat is survived by her loving husband of 39 years Bob Lemeshka (Acworth, GA), daughter Niki Lemeshka (Acworth, GA), son Brian Lemeshka and his wife Toni (Canton, GA), beloved grandchildren Andi and Brooks, brother Jack Murray and his wife Patti (Scituate, RI), nephews Mark, James and Jay and his wife Devin, brother-in-law Jon Lemeshka (Marietta, GA), her large extended family of Murrays, Friels, and Clarkins, and BOFs (Best of Friends) Peggy Mills (Woodstock, GA), Denise Dixon (Acworth, GA), and Kathy Woods (Acworth, GA). Pat’s family would like to express sincere thanks to the extensive list of professionals that contributed to her care throughout her cancer experience, who include but are not limited to: Dr. Carmen Klass and staff; Dr. John Kauh and staff; Dr. Murphy Townsend and staff; Dr. Vijay Nath and staff; Dr. John Symbas and staff; the staff of the Wound Treatment Center at Kennestone Hospital; Dr. William Wood and staff; Dr. Charles Staley and staff; Dr. Michael Fanucchi and staff; the nursing staff of the Fresenius Dialysis Centers of Acworth; the staff of Wellstar Kennestone Hospital; the staff of Emory University Hospital; the staff of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida; the staff of the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston, Massachusetts; the staff of Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, New York; and finally the staff of Wellstar Community Hospice, especially nurse Lisa Williams. Additional thanks go to Pat’s best friends Peggy Mills, Kathy Woods and Denise Dixon who assisted with her care in her final days and provided ongoing support to the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Life Raft Group which conducts research and support for other GIST patients, or the LiveStrong Foundation which provides supportive services and advocacy for cancer survivors and their families. A wake will be held at the Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta on 1/15/15 from 5PM-7:30PM with a funeral mass to be held at Transfiguration Catholic Church in Marietta on 1/16/15 at 2PM. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Patricia "Pat" Ann (Murray) Lemeshka

October 21, 1950 - December 31, 2014