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Patricia Ann “Patsy” Graves Lorence, 80, of Hollywood, MD, gained her angel wings on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.

Patsy was born January 1, 1940 by a midwife in Mount Victoria to the late James Edwin Graves and Bessie Marie Ryce Graves. She was the sixth born of nine children and spent her childhood living on the family tobacco farm with her siblings. She would proudly tell you that her morning chore was to collect the eggs from the chickens and make the giant stove pot of breakfast oatmeal.

Patsy graduated from Archbishop Neale School in 1957 in LaPlata, MD. In her earlier years, Patsy spent many hours volunteering at St. Michael’s School and was a member of both The Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and The Children and Youth of Leonardtown, MD. Her first job was working for Physicians Memorial Hospital in LaPlata, MD, where she gained experience for patient care. She later moved to Washington, DC to be a Candy Striper for Blue Cross Blue Shield, generously taking care of the sick. Her final job was as a baker for St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Cafeteria. She found happiness in making countless tasty sweets and treats for the college’s hardworking students.

Patsy married the love of her life, Jacob Robert Lorence on February 14, 1959 at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, MD. They happily resided in St. Inigoes, MD and then moved to Hollywood, MD in 2001 after building a perfect forever home in their own piece of woodsy paradise. Here, they spent time together feeding loved ones, enjoying the outdoor wildlife, and worshiping God.

Patsy loved God and was very active in the Catholic Church. She especially loved her family and her dog, Annabelle. She was known for being giving and selfless. Her favorite things to do were to laugh, make others laugh, go crabbing with chicken necks, and scope out the best yard sales around St. Mary’s County. She enjoyed cooking large meals that could feed an army, which always consisted of homemade stuffed ham and all kinds of delicious crab dishes.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jacob Robert Lorence, and her siblings; James W. Graves, Doris E. Williams, Alvin L. Graves, John E. Graves, Theresa L. Milbrook, and Vernon R. Graves. She is survived by her daughters, Cindy Michele Dooley (Bill) and Elizabeth Gail Johnson (Bill) in addition to her grandchildren Brittney Dooley, Jarrett Dooley, and Julie Call. She is also survived by twenty-five nieces and nephews, as well as her sisters, Mary E. Still and Sandra L. Lawson.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church in Hollywood, MD, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM with Father Ray Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Graves, Steve Milbrook, Ernie Graves, Kevin Lorence, Gabriel Lettau, and Jarrett Dooley.

Contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Hospice, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.