Patricia M Sprague

On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Patricia Meriwether Sprague, loving wife of Robert Sprague and mother of Drake and Devon passed away at age seventy-eight. Born and raised in the Panama Canal Zone, the daughter of a Californian father and Costa Rican mother, she spent her early years traveling between Panama, Costa Rica and the US with her four siblings, visiting relatives and vacationing, including driving the Pan-American Highway and across the US multiple times. She attended Ancon Elementary and Balboa High School, graduating in 1963. She subsequently attended the Canal Zone College, University of Maryland and the Universidad de Costa Rica. Before becoming a secondary school teacher, she worked for the Canal Zone Government, Central Intelligence Agency, as a realtor on Capitol Hill, and the Department of Defense Dependents School System. As a school teacher for many years, Patricia was well liked by her students, many of whom are quick to describe her as their “favorite teacher”. Tender and gentle in spirit, she also saw the potential in others to excel beyond themselves. This applied as much to her students as to her own children, with a life of proper and decent living and respect for others core to her beliefs. A lifelong learner and traveler, Patricia resided in numerous countries spanning the globe from Panama to Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Okinawa, and Germany, visiting many other countries from Asia to the Pacific and Europe. When traveling to new places, Patricia always came prepared with a well-researched itinerary of art, cultural and historic sites she could experience to their fullest. She watched the Olympic Games in Nagano, climbed Mt. Fuji, walked along the Great Wall of China, marveled at the beauty of New Zealand, and rode a camel in Morocco. In every place she lived, Patricia enjoyed friendships and taking part in opportunities, especially with fellow DODDS teacher friends, to get together to eat, play games, and share in conversation. She instilled the appreciation of all peoples and cultures of the world in her own children from early in their lives, and encouraged positivity and a wonder of the world. You could find her planning her next trip, enjoying a cup of coffee, reading a good book, and writing letters to friends and loved ones. To her children, Patricia will always be remembered as a consistently loving and nurturing mother concerned not only for their wellbeing, but for that of their own children. Her listening ear, gentle honesty and unwavering encouragement continue on as we know she is still with us. To her husband, Pat will always be seen as his "right hand" and wise life partner, which has been tragically lost. Affectionately known as “Gigi” by her four grandchildren, Patricia’s legacy as a kind and loving grandmother is indelibly marked forever upon them. In her absence, we have lost a pillar of our family, a God given gift to whom we could never attribute too much credit for making us who we are. Our beloved Patricia - wife, mother, and “Gigi” - will forevermore be missed. A funeral mass will be held at 9 am on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at The Cathedral Basilica in St. Augustine with burial to follow at San Lorenzo Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4-6 pm on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at St. Johns Family Funeral Home.

Patricia M Sprague

March 22, 1945 - October 18, 2023