Patricia Elaine MacDougall

March 30, 1939 - December 19, 2020

On December 19, 2020 Patricia Elaine Darby MacDougall moved on to finally learn the family genealogy answers we have pursued for years, due to COVID – 19 at Hartford Hospital. Our mother was born on March 30, 1939 to Edyth W. (Jacobsen) and Calvin W. Darby, the first of their three children. She grew up in the house her father had built on the land her grandfather owned behind his house, in West Hartford, CT. She graduated from Hall High school and later married James Russell MacDougall in 1958. They purchased her childhood home and raised their four daughters, with their Great-grandmother Nicoline (Fia) living in the house behind them. They had four daughters: Kristina (Layne) Brown of W. Simsbury CT, Deborah Scully of Hartford CT, Kimberly (Bradford) Hall of Red Hook NY and Megan Galvin of Wethersfield CT. When her father was stationed on an Airforce Base in England, she lived there with them after graduating from high school. She traveled with James and her parents to Bermuda and Portugal, so our father and grandfather could play golf during the winter. While mom and her mother explored during one trip to Portugal, they decided to take a spoon from the hotel, as a souvenir, which ended in costing our father and grandfather $25 per spoon. Traveling to Sweden and Demark was a great family adventure for mom, her mother and two of her daughters. Relatives and old family homesteads were visited and explored; it was a fantastic trip for the three generations. When JCPenney at West farms in Farmington, CT was set to open, she set up and worked in the Girls Department for over 30 years, until her retirement. She was an avid reader until Alzheimer’s Disease took her passion away from her. She loved going to the library and instilled the love of books into her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was a dedicated member for over 50 years of the Elmwood Community Church, serving on almost every church board. She could be found each year cooking lunch at the Holiday Fair, working on the annual summer Tag Sale, Strawberry Festival and Chicken BBQ, with the help of her daughters/sons-in law and grandchildren. She was passionate about her service to South Park Shelter weather cooking and serving meals to collecting bedding, socks, and anything else she could help with. Mom loved her church and all those in it. For many years she put in 2 community garden plots growing many types of heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, etc. and always flowers for her mother. Her garden was her sanctuary which drew her everyday from May until the end of October. Her joy was sharing her garden’s bounty – everyone she knew or met would receive her delicious tomatoes and anything else ripe that day. Mom began researching her Swedish family history in the early 1970’s. Along with her mother, daughter’s, and grandchildren she traveled CT, MA, Sweden and Denmark through town Halls, libraries, cemeteries, old homesteads and meeting long lost family, all in the pursuit to complete her family history. She began volunteering at the Mormon genealogy Library, after spending years there doing her own research, and did so until the COVID pandemic closed the library. Mom was a great cook and baker having learned from her Swedish/Danish grandparents. Family favorites were Swedish tea log and Danish puff and basically anything else she cooked. She perfected our father’s favorite pumpkin pie. Once a month she would bake for our after-Church coffee hour, which was always enjoyed by all. Her canned Bread and Butter pickles and Sweet Chili sauce, was a much-anticipated fall treat. She took great enjoyment in cooking and bring baked goods for any occasion. Mom was a Girl Scout leader of Troop 44 for many years at Elmwood and Wolcott Elementary schools. She loved camping with her family at Rocky Neck State Park, being together with family on Thanksgiving Day, overseeing the making of the gravy, celebrating Christmas Eve with all the generations and watching her cherished Boston Red Sox. She leaves her brother, Peter Darby Avon CT, sister Priscilla (Harvey) Sackner Willingboro NJ, her beloved Grandchildren Johanna (Tim) Oppel, Kara (Shawn) Smith, Anson (Ashley) Brown and Addison (Brooke) Brown, Brianne Scully, Harrison Scully, Nathaniel (Olivia) Hall, Lydia Hall and Daniel MacDougall. Great-grandchildren Mason Oppel, Braydon Oppel, Savannah Smith, Harper Brown, Avery Brown, Emryn Brown and Krystal MacDougall. Sister’s-law Barbara Magro, Penny MacDougall, Pamala Darby, and brother -in law Alan MacDougall. Special cousins Steve Gain and Susan Tomasino WV. Special love and gratitude to Carmen Diaz, Edwardo, Angela, and TJ, who lifted Mom’s spirits, gave her love and joy, and always made her laugh. She was predeceased by her former husband James MacDougall, her parents Edyth & Calvin Darby, grandparents Nicoline & Lauritz Jacobsen, Samuel & Ida Darby, and son-law Phillip Galvin. Mom’s family, traditions and history were at the center of her life and shared them with all generations who followed. Hur mår du idag? Mycket bra jag älaskar dig Mom Forever A celebration gathering will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to the Elmwood Community Church 26 Newington Road Elmwood CT 06110 or The Wounded Warrior Project. Please share online condolences, memories, or photo tributes at Rosehillfuneralhomes.com.