Patricia Saldarini

Patricia Lynn (Eldridge) Saldarini, 79, beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2024, surrounded by family at The Forest at Duke retirement community in Durham, North Carolina.

Patti was born on May 28, 1945, in Trenton, New Jersey, whose proud slogan is “What Trenton Makes, The World Takes.” Patti was no exception, as her life took her all over, from Pensacola, Florida to Seattle, Washington to Naples, Italy and much more. The daughter of a Navy pilot, she grew up mostly in Norfolk, Virginia and attended Norview High School before graduating from Mary Washington College in 1967.

She first met her husband, Chuck, during June Week at the Naval Academy, when his date stood him up and her own date turned out to be a dud. That night, her future husband’s charm and sense of humor won her over, and their love story began. When asked what she liked about him, her answer was simple: “Everything.” They were married 52 years.

Patti taught high school English for one year in Clarksville, Tennessee, when Chuck was stationed at Fort Campbell. She didn’t love teaching, but she had an insatiable love for reading and words. She relished doing her kids’ vocabulary homework and took great pride in finishing literary giants like War and Peace and Infinite Jest in record time. She was also a prolific letter writer and sent her children, extended family and friends cards for nearly every occasion.

Though an introvert, she had a dry wit and enjoyed playing the perfect straight man to her husband’s elaborate set piece party jokes. She sometimes caught others off guard with bawdy remarks that belied her reserved nature. Each year, on the first of May, she sent her children a special message—one that can’t be printed here (IYKYK).

She was never short on friends and maintained strong connections with those she loved. She and Chuck traveled widely and especially cherished two trips taken to England and Scotland with her sister Randa and her brother-in-law, Keith. She also looked forward to annual beach trips with Chuck’s side of the family.

While living in Greensboro, she met and befriended Judy Pagani. They bonded over their experiences with their passionate Italian-American husbands and became lifelong friends. She and Chuck also had more “couples friends” than one could count, from Clarksville to Greensboro, Charlotte, Seattle, Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake.

Patti was a self-described couch potato who humorously recounted that her worst grade in college was a D in Golf. Later in life, doctors were surprised to learn that she had all her original body parts, one of the few benefits of never exercising. Instead, she stayed busy knitting countless blankets, sweaters and hats for her family, painting, and bargain shopping.

Her children, and then her grandchildren, brought her endless joy. They fondly recall her delicious and filling meals (she adopted the generous use of butter when she moved down South). They looked forward to everything she made, from traditional Thanksgiving feasts to weeknight spaghetti and meatballs and her famous apple pie. Mostly, they remember all the ways she spoiled them: no screen time limits, lollipop trees and overstuffed Christmas stockings, to name just a few.

She is survived by her son Ross Saldarini (Joe-Anne), her daughter Lynn Duda (Matt), and her daughter Katy Barron (Walt); grandchildren Katlyn and Denilson Saldarini, Lula and Daisy Duda, and Ruby and Dot Barron; sister Randa Gustard; brother-in-law Ron Saldarini (Suzanne) and one niece and five nephews.

The Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be at 12:30 pm Monday, October 14, in the sanctuary of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church in Durham. A reception will follow in the Carr Narthex. The service will also be live streamed (the link can be found in the Service Schedule tab).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church’s Hurricane Helene relief fund in support of Western North Carolina: https://www.trinityave.org/hurricane-relief