GUILDERLAND — Outgoing and caring, Patricia Ann Tymchyn was as energetic line dancing as she was baking or making crafts.

She “went to her eternal rest, surrounded by her loving and devoted family” on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, her family wrote in a tribute.

 She was born on Jan. 28, 1941 in Albany, the daughter of the late Alton and Blanche Fisher La Roche, and late stepmother, Evangeline La Roche.

In 1958, she graduated from Vincentian Institute in Albany. Her working career included employment with Travelers Insurance, Friendly Hometoy Parties, and Georgia Pacific, where she met the love of her life, Walter J. Tymchyn.

“It was love at first sight for me,” said Mr. Tymchyn. He was working for Georgia Pacific as a trucker when he met the secretary who would change his life.

“She was a terrific wife and mother, none better,” he said. “She was very outgoing, caring, giving to a lot of people.”

One of the couple’s favorite activities was teaching line dancing in and around Albany. Through their “Get in Line and Dance” company, they met and made many friends.

“She was a terrific dancer when I stayed off her toes,” said her husband with a chuckle.

He said she also liked to do crossword puzzles.

Mrs. Tymchyn was devoted to animals, particularly her beagle, Lucy. “We’ve had her since she was eight weeks old; she’ll be six in February,” said Mr. Tymchyn. The love between his wife and Lucy “went two ways,” he said. “The dog was very protective of her.”

Mrs. Tymchyn’s daughter, Stacie Ann Farina, said, “She was the epitome of a perfect mom…You never went without hugs and kisses.”

She was very energetic and enthusiastic, her daughter said. “When we had school field trips, she was always the first one to go,” she said.

Mrs. Farina went on, “She taught me how to bake when I was so small I was tripping over the apron on the floor. And she got me into arts and crafts.”

When Mrs. Farina was a girl, her mother was the “craft lady” for her Girl Scout troop. “I could never surprise her with a craft like the other girls,” she said.

The mother-daughter duo went to many craft fairs over the years. “She sewed. She made doll clothes. She made clothes for my dolls, for me, and for herself,” said Mrs. Farina.

Mrs. Tymchyn made the holidays fun. Around Halloween, for example, she brought out cookie cutters in the shape of pumpkins, ghosts, and witches. She’d make white sugar cookies with an egg-yolk glaze. She’d put dye into the glaze in different colors.  “We’d use our paintbrushes to dip in and decorate the cookies,” said her daughter.

Mrs. Tymchyn relished many experiences. She loved taking a pontoon boat ride in Saratoga, her daughter said, and was equally thrilled with front-row tickets to see The Will Rogers Follies, a surprise gift from the Farinas.

Mrs. Farina went on to fondly recall one adventure she had with her mother. “We both read a book set in the 1890s about Maggie, an Irish house servant in Glens Falls who was murdered,” she said. “One Mother’s Day, she said, ‘Let’s find Maggie.’ We went to all the cemeteries in the area on a hunt for her grave….We found Maggie.”

Mrs. Tymchyn, who was known for her beautiful floral arrangements, left a bouquet on Maggie’s grave.

“She always had a lot of empathy and compassion for everybody else,” said Mrs. Farina. “At the hospital, her last evening, she was apologizing to the staff for putting them out…She said there must be people who were sicker who needed tending to.”

Mrs. Farina concluded of her mother, “She was always hands-on and arms-around.”
 

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She is survived by her husband and best friend of 42 years, Walter Tymchyn; her sister and brother-in-law, Ida and Robert Trollinger of San Antonio, Texas; her sisters-in-law, Gloria Rice and Elizabeth Staroba; her sons, John M. Tymchyn of Connecticut  and Scott A. Tymchyn of Guilderland; her daughter and son-in-law, Stacie Ann and Nick Farina of Stephentown; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Her brother, George Kenneth La Roche, died before her.

Her family gives heartfelt thanks to the staff at Albany Memorial Hospital and Albany Dialysis Center for their care, kindness, and love.

At the request of Mrs. Tymchyn and her family, there will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life. Friends and family are invited to the Church at the Crossroads, State Route 43 in Stephentown, for 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. Arrangements are by Newcomer Cannon Funeral Home in Colonie. Mourners may leave online messages for the family at www.NewcomerAlbany.com.

Mrs. Tymchyn requested donations be made to Steve Caporizzo’s Pet Connection, 341 Northern Boulevard, Albany, NY 12204 or to local chapters of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer