Patricia Ann Nagy, 81, of Leonardtown died Nov. 24, 2012, at her residence.

Born Feb. 2, 1931, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of the late Paul Yellig and Mildred (Smith) Yellig.

She was a resident of Cedar Lane and graduated from South Hills High School. She was employed as secretary to the vice president of U.S. Steel and the chair of the department of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. It was there that she met her husband, Jim.

She was a loving mother who taught her children tolerance and the “golden rule.” Her philosophy was “to thine own self be true” and she loved the Lord. “Oh, well!” was her version of the Serenity Prayer.

She loved to cook and bake for her family. She could whip up mean pepperoni scrambled eggs on a camp stove. Camping in Shenandoah National Park was a family tradition. She loved to watch birds and read mystery novels and books about gardening. She and her husband had a craft business called Patience Pine and her specialty was fused glass. She drew all the designs for their wood appliqué. She and her friend, Louise, sold handmade Christmas ornaments at local craft fairs. Three generations of her family have craft day the Friday after Thanksgiving, a tradition she started.

She was a member of the Women’s Club in Middle River and an officer of the PTA at Kenilworth Elementary School in Bowie. She enjoyed two epic trips in her life a visit to France and Switzerland and a solo white-water raft trip down the Colorado River. She raised West Highland white terrier show dogs. She presented her champion, Jason, at Madison Square Garden.

She was a cancer survivor and a member of First Saints Community Church in St. George Island.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Stuart A. Nagy of Melbourne, Fla., Susan McCabe of Leonardtown and Christopher V. Nagy of Charlotte, N.C.; her grandchildren, Jennifer McCabe, Kate Bluey, Lauren Nagy and Jack Nagy; step-grandchild, Sara Graves; and great-grandchildren, Ellen Bluey, Ada Bluey and Boden Bluey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Larry Nagy.

The family received friends and a prayer service was held Nov. 27 at Brinsfield Funeral Home in Leonardtown.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1041 Route 3 N, Bldg. A, Gambrills, MD 21054.