Patricia Hayes
Feb. 3, 1926-Aug. 6, 2024
Sunnyvale, California
Submitted by Stewart Hayes

We commemorate the life of Patricia Hayes, aka Pat Hayes, February 3, 1926 – August 6, 2024. Daughter of Stewart E. Duff and Jean Alexia Margaret Foster. Her illness was age. She died while sleeping. Shortly after celebrating her 98th birthday in February, she said she felt she was getting old. It was a blessing to feel that way at the age she did. Family and friends benefited from her youthful, creative and adventurous spirit. Born in San Francisco, educated at the Art Students League in New York, she also lived in Pennsilvania and Indiana as a child. She met her husband George T. Hayes on a blind date in NY and they were inseparable for 64 years, living first in Scarsdale and then Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, Spain, Redding and Sunnyvale.

She was mother to 6 children, a grandmother to 11 and had 3+ great grandchildren. She was an artist, a wife, a mother, a volunteer at Allied Arts and a businesswoman. With most of the children out of the house, she and fellow friends and artists Mary Bourquin and Pat Casterson, founded the 'Expressions' gift store on main street Los Altos 1977~1998. Locals will remember the store which featured around 40 artists, a gallery of unique art and hand crafts. During the holiday season the owners made salted dough ornaments and attached them to the white gift boxes with green ribbon for customers. They participated in the first Festival of Lights Parade in 1977 and shortly thereafter made holiday themed banners which were hung from lampposts every winter for the parade.

Of late, art projects with great grandchildren brought her joy. Always thinking of others, she wanted to know weeks ago, 'Who will take care of you? Her husband, George and son Stephen Hayes predeceased her. Surviving children include Kathryn, Cynthia, Kenneth, George and Stewart. (Photo of Pat and George 2007)

Tags: arts/media, business, public service