Patricia Louise Night Hudelson passed away peacefully in Columbus, Ohio on March 21, 2023, after a brief illness, surrounded by her family. Born in Syracuse on Nov. 15, 1928, Pat was known for her energy and enthusiasm, interest in people and curiosity about the world.
After graduating from high school Pat attended Bellevue School of Nursing in New York City where she received her nursing degree in 1950. After graduating Pat worked as a nurse in London, England, and, on returning to Syracuse earned a bachelor’s degree in public health nursing from Syracuse University, before marrying George David “Pete” Hudelson in 1958. Pat and Pete settled in Cazenovia in 1964, where they raised their family. In 1970 Pat received a master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University.
At the core of Pat’s personality was a passion for language, learning and travel. While working with Pete to raise their family, Pat found time to begin studying German in the early 1970s, and later studied Spanish and French, each of which she put to good use over the years. In 1971 she convinced Pete to take the family to England and Europe, and in 1973 to Spain. These would be the first of many trips she’d make with family and friends throughout her life, including trips to England with Pete in the 1980s to visit their son David and daughter-in-law Betsy. Pat also convinced a somewhat reluctant Pete to travel to Niger to visit their daughter Trisha, and commented on returning that many of Pete’s photos were taken from inside the rental car. After Pete passed away in 1987 Pat travelled to Nicaragua as a volunteer helping to build water supply infrastructure in a rural community, and over the next 30 years made many trips to South and Central America and Europe with family and friends, including several trips to Guatemala with her son Peter and best friend Nancy to study Spanish, and most recently, at the age of 90, travelling with Peter to visit Trisha and her husband Thomas in Switzerland.
In 2019 Pat moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be near David and Betsy, and found much happiness there near family, enjoying visits with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pat was a passionate supporter of the Cazenovia Public Library, serving as a regular volunteer from the mid-1960s until she moved to Columbus in 2019. She was also a long-standing member of the United Church of Fayetteville, and an active volunteer with civic organizations including the Fayetteville Free Library, North Country Trail Association, Cazenovia Art Park and the Central New York Medical Reserve Corps.
Pat is survived by her sons David (Betsy) Hudelson and Peter Hudelson and her daughter Trisha (Thomas) Perneger: her grandchildren Stephen (Marianne) Hudelson, Phillip (Natalia) Hudelson, Andrew (Caroline) Hudelson, Edward (Stephanie) Hudelson, Stuart Hudelson, Emma Perneger and Elizabeth Hudelson; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Pat’s family is profoundly grateful to the staff at both Bickford of Bexley and Zusman Hospice for the love and care they gave to Patricia.
An informal celebration of life for Pat will be held at noon on Aug. 19, 2023, at the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, following a 10 a.m. graveside service at the Evergreen Cemetery. Friends of Pat are invited to attend. The Stone Quarry Hill Art Park is located at 3883 Stone Quarry Road in Cazenovia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Cazenovia Public Library: cazenoviapubliclibrary.org/friends-of-the-library-donation.
