NEW SCOTLAND — Patricia Anne Riley Coons was the ultimate mother — she fostered over 100 children and adopted 13.

“She taught us to always give back and to never give up,” said her eldest child, Steven Coons. “She taught us: You can do whatever you want to do in life. If I was in the foster-care system, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today. She gave us a home.”

 “She was a remarkable woman who filled her home with love and promise,” said her daughter-in-law, Meredith Coons.

Mrs. Coons died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, July 16, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. She was 79 years old.

She was born in North Albany, the daughter of Willis Riley and Zabeda Blake. Her own mother died young, her son said. “She had lots of family. They didn’t have much money — it was a tough life for her, growing up — but they had lots of love.”

She met the man who would become her husband, Francis Coons, when he was just back from the service, their son said. “He went on a date with my aunt, her sister. But he saw my mom when he came to the house. All of a sudden, they were in love.”

Their marriage lasted 63 years, ending only with Mrs. Coons’s death.

“I was dropped off as a babysitting job when I was three months old,” said Mr. Coons. “My birth mother never came back.”

Three years later, when his birth mother finally returned, the Coons told her, “He’s ours now.”  Steven Coons went on, “The Coons family moved me around so I couldn’t be found until the court date.”

He was the Coonses’ only child until he was 6 years old. Mrs. Coons then worked with the Albany County Department of Social Services for 20 years as a foster parent to over 100 children. She was voted the Capital District Elks Mother of the Year in 1985.

“We started getting all these kids,” said Mr. Coons. He remembers at Christmas being upset that not all the gifts were for him. But he learned to share.

“She just couldn’t say no to children,” said Mr. Coons. “Even if it was too many in the house and stretched her financially and emotionally. She just helped everyone even if she had to go without.”

When a child needed immediate attention, Mr. Coons said, his mother, and by extension the entire family, was there for that child. “She took ’em on and showed you love,” he said.

Eventually, the Coonses’ four-bedroom house on Route 85 in New Scotland had three more bedrooms built in what had been the garage. “Some of us bunked together,” said Mr. Coons. “As I was moving out, the last three kids came in.”

The kitchen was set up with two tables and meals were served promptly. “If you were late, you missed out,” said Mr. Coons. The three bathrooms always seemed to be filled, especially as the kids cycled through to go to school in Voorheesville.

The family spent a lot of time outdoors. “We had beautiful flowers and gardens and a pool,” Mr. Coons said. The boys grew up active in sports. “We went camping and fishing and hunting,” he said.

“Despite her large family, Patricia always made time for everyone,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She always provided support and love for her family.

“She and her husband, Francis, worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for their kids. Her greatest love was her family. Words cannot describe her determination, not only to provide the best for her children but her relentless passion for life.”

His parents made a good team, Mr. Coons said. “Sometimes they used tough love. They made sure we did the right things …. Dad was the good cop; Mom was the bad cop.” If a child complained to his father, he would say, “Just do what she says,” recalled Mr. Coons.

Steven Coons went on about his mother’s personality, “She never gave up on anything …. If she wanted to protect someone, she had the will to get it done.”

That applied to herself as well. “In 2017, she almost died of brain cancer,” said Mr. Coons. He recalled how one day, she sat up in her hospital bed and said, “We’re going the hell home.”

“That was five years ago,” he said. “She was a fighter. She was determined. She was loving and caring and wouldn’t give up on anything.”

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Patricia Anne Riley Coons is survived by her husband, Francis, of 63 years and by their 14 adopted children: Steven (Gail), Kevin, Donald, William (Loretta), Jeffrey, Adam (Melody), Jason, Daniel (Meredith), Tina, Sonya (Jason), Mary Beth, Jeanette (Amin), Naomi (Michael), and Christian.

She is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by her two sisters, Shirley (Edward) and Eleanor (Claude). 

Her brothers, Armand, Eugene, and Willis, Jr., died before her, as did her sisters, Francis-Ruth, Marion, Violet, Janice, Nellie, Lois, and Hazel.

“The family would like to thank all of the doctors and nurses for their support,” the tribute said. “A special thank-you to Dr. Lawrence Garbo and Dr. Barbara Hauser for their years of care. Thank you to Hospice and her aids, Stephanie, Karen, and Kate at Unlimited Care. Patricia also enjoyed time with her many pets.”

The burial was Wednesday, July 21, at 11 a.m. at the Schenectady Memorial Park at 566 Giffords Church Road Schenectady.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Joan Nicole Prince Home. Checks may be made out to the Schenectady Community Home and mailed to 22 Glenview Drive, Post Office Box 2122, Scotia, NY 12303.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer