Patsy “Pat” Burleson Schawitsch, age 82, of Pinehurst NC, passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2023. She was born in Stanly County, North Carolina to Cecil Burleson and Virginia (nee Cox) Burleson. However, during World War II, her family moved for a short time to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to help with the war effort. Their time at Oak Ridge was difficult as Pat would recall her father having to sweep snakes off the front porch before she and her brothers could leave the house.
She was happy to return to North Carolina, where she excelled in academics and in making friends, graduating top of her class from Boyden High School, Salisbury, NC. She married and started a family. Yet, it wasn’t long after her children started school that Pat decided PTA meetings and creative birthday parties were not enough. She first worked for the Peace Officers Association before landing an administrative position at the Rowan County Housing Authority. Here, she worked her way up to Executive Director by taking night classes and plowing through every policy manual she could find. As with everything Pat pursued, she flourished in her position and met people from around the country. She stayed in touch with them after meeting the love of her life, Dale Schawitsch, who moved her first to Maryland and then to Pennsylvania.
When Dale and Pat had a chance to relocate, they moved back to her beloved North Carolina, where they settled in Pinehurst. Pat and Dale volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, until Pat was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during the pandemic. Yet, once again defying the odds, Pat survived intensive surgery and beat cancer.
She was a voracious reader, preferring mysteries, but would read any printed word that crossed her path. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing Bedazzled, and papercrafts – often making homemade cards for friends and family. She was avid in her correspondence, keeping up with old friends while always making new ones.
Pat is survived by her husband, Dale Schawitsch of 37 years; her daughters, Ellen Sidbury and husband Tom of Hampstead, NC, and Elaine Wilderson and husband Eric of Pinehurst, NC; grandsons Sean Sidbury and Ben Sidbury; stepdaughter Tiffany Dillow and husband Mark of Catonsville, MD; brothers Gary Burleson and wife Annette, and Clay Burleson and wife Jackie, both of Salisbury, NC. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jennifer Whitman of Salisbury, NC.
Visitation and memorial services will be held at Boles Funeral Home in Pinehurst. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 21 at 2 p.m., followed by visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts should be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or to FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care in West End, NC.
Online condolences may be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.
