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Patty Chan (Colmer)
Born: October 31, 1945
Died: December 2, 2014
Age at Death: 69 years
 Patricia "Patty" Colmer of Sacramento passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 2 after a tough, eight-month battle with cancer.
Patty was a loving wife, aunt, great aunt, auntie, second mother, friend and sister. Born on Oct. 31, 1945, Patty has been very close to all her friends and relatives to the point where quite a few friends think of her more as a sister than a friend. She was the most giving person you could ever meet. She gave until she couldn't anymore.
As her husband of 23 years, Bruce Colmer said, she was, "Giving, giving, giving. You couldn't give her something without knowing she was going to give you something in return." Patty was the kind of person you could confide in; she was a true friend and a fun one at that. Patty had a zest for life. She was so entertaining herself and always brightened up your day. She and her husband Bruce spent every waking moment together on adventures big and small. They traveled to the ocean, the Yucatan, and spent a lot of time riding on his Harley Davidson together. Patty even had special clothing for the rides. Patty liked glider flying and she's up there gliding around right now. She was an avid skier and enjoyed life to its fullest. She loved the golf tournaments up by Lake Tahoe.
Patty and her mother Lola Chan were as close as sisters. Patty would visit her mother every Friday. They'd go to lunch and go sight-seeing together. Until the past year, Patty would do all the driving. With Bruce, they drove down to Long Beach, stopping to visit Patty's great-nieces Silk and Quinn, and her great-nephew Bode, whom she adored tremendously. On the many trips together, Patty photographed landscapes, plants and animals, and from her photographs, she created many gifts for people, including beautiful cards, pendants, photo canvasses and even glass cutting boards.
Patty was well known throughout the area for her photography and art works. She showed some of her work at local craft fairs, such as the Holiday Craft Fair and Book Sale at the Maidu Community Center in Roseville and the annual Christmas craft fair at the Elks Lodge, No. 6, where she was a long-time member. Patty once wrote, "My passion is using color, texture and lighting to capture the simple, often overlooked finer things that life has to offer." Her adventurous and giving spirit lives on in those she is survived by, including, of course, Bruce, mother Lola Chan, and brothers Sam Chan Jr. (Nachi) and Dan Chan (DeeAnn). Patricia was aunt to Aki Chan, Kenji Chan, Lyle Chan, Katie Chan, Russell Colmer, Alyssa Trebil, Maura Hanrahan and Gordy Hanrahan.
Patty graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School in 1963 where she was a cheerleader and from where she won an art scholarship. She became a graphic artist for Pacific Bell in the late 1960s. During her long career in the magazine and newspaper business, she published and co-owned Sacramento Magazine, worked for the Sacramento Union, the Press Tribune, the Washington Post and the Sacramento Bee, where she became the publications manager for Discover Magazine. Patty was the sales manager for Valley Community Newspapers for the past 12 years.
Per Patty's wishes, she will be buried under an oak tree because she loved oak trees. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. at Sylvan Cemetery, 7401 Auburn Blvd., in Citrus Heights, 95610. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Patty, please make it to the charity of your choice.
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Charlotte Adelman (Paliani)
I just heard of Patty's passing. It made me very sad. She was always so cheerful. We were good buddies in high school and then lost touch but when I saw her at reunions, it seemed like we hadn't ever parted. She was great at remembering our escapades and made me laugh. I cherish her memory and my sympathies to the family. She was taken too young and vibrant...my thoughts are with the family and her many friends...
Dennis Chan
Dear Patty,May you Rest in Peace.
With Deepest Sympathy and Condolences.
I knew Patty at Joaquin Miller Jr High and at C.K. McClatchy.
We use to tell people we were related. Lol.
She was always so friendly and had such a great smile.
I enjoyed seeing her again after all these years at our 50yr reunion.
She remembered my birthday this year which brightened my day.
Patty you may have passed, but you will never be forgotten.
May you be at Peace with The Angels.
Dennis Chan
Peggy Fredlund (Schaffran)
What an amazing life!!! RIP under the oak tree!! Peggy Fredlund Schaffran
Sorry for your loss.
Robert Moeckly
I was so sorry to learn that Patty had passed away. It seems like I just talked to her at the 50th reunion. I had no idea that she was sick. I first met Patty at Joaquin Miller. We stayed friends through our days at McClatchy. We had many mutual friends. I enjoyed seeing her at some of the reunions and especially at the 50th. This world has lost a loving and gentle soul.
Diana Doupé (Vicari)
My strongest thoughts go to Patty's family...such a loss, such a good person! It was a pleasure to know her...
Allison Oakes (Sabraw)
My heart is fillled with sadness and grief, and shock. I read her obit. on Sunday.
I was not able to attend the most recent high school reunion, as I had just returned from Mexico the day of the reunion. Patty contacted me and invited me to attend a photo art show she was having. We immediately connected. I had the pleasure of meeting her husband and her mom. I could feel the close knit relationship. The respect and regard they shared for each other was so gentle yet filled with enthusiasm.
Patty and I continued to email each other, and had made some good business connections. I miss the relationship that we were developing. I miss her energy. I felt that she ran circles around everyone else in her zest for life and others.
Patty's dealth is so tragic. I had no idea of any on set of cancer or illness.
My regrets to her family, friends. Such a loss of a young women.
Allison Oakes Sabraw
David Grandstaff ((SiteAdmin))
I was shocked and sadden to learn of Patty’s passing. I’ve known Patty since grammar school and although we didn’t hang out together, she always made me feel very comfortable, like we’d known each other forever. Patty, may you rest in peace.
Our condolences to Bruce and their family.
David & Bunny
Susie Waters (Caluza)
I too was shocked and saddened to learn of Patty's passing. We became friends our sophmore year at C.K. We had P.E. togerther and shared shower stalls under the supervision of Miss Amick. At the reunions we would laugh about our experiences in those hot,steaming, sweaty showers and how Miss Amick would make us remove our towels and turn around under the water-as she glared over the stall door!-eeeeeek! Our friendship continued from there and I was always impressed with Patty and her "upbeat" personality and "adorable" smile. She was such fun to be with and always made you feel good. Patty was also very supportive of our reunion efforts. She came to all our reunions and was always willing to help us anyway she could.
My sincere condolences and sympathy to Bruce and Family. We have lost a wonderful person who will be remembered for a long time. I will miss her.
Susie(Waters)Caluza
Diane Hinesley (Malone)
Like all who are reading postings about the loss of our classmate Patty I to am saddened and shocked. She enjoyed a life well lived experiencing all life had to offer her and then some. Loving her family to the fullest, savoring time with her mother, leaving memories for them to share and look back on during this difficult time. I to shared time with her at our last reunion and wish the conversation had lasted longer. Seens we are loosing our classmates to soon and to often.
Bruce: I have this feeling there is one more star up in the sky. And even though it is far away its brightness and warmth still reach you here to make the night a little less dark.
Diane Hinesley Malone
Jackson Lytal
I first met Patty in the third grade at Ethyl Phillips Elementary; I had a crush on her immediately, I guess it was just that smile. Through Junior High and then McClatchy, we were friends with a different focus (by then I was in love with cars) but I will always think of Patty in her Cheer Leader Outfit; and yes, it was again all about that big smile. Years later, after the fall of the Soviet Union, my position at McClellan Air Force Base required we host the first contingent of Ukrainian Engineers relocating to the US. Petty and I reconnected at that time as she was doing research on the relocation for Sacramento Magazine. She hadn't changed ! The same smile, intelligent eyes, and quick wit. At the 50th reunion, there it was again. God, she will be missed. I hope she knows how many lives she brightened just by being herself.
Jack.