Obituary for Patricia Ann Holmes at Peaslee Funeral Home Farmington, NH (2024)

Patricia Ann Holmes

January 29, 2023

Patricia Ann Holmes

January 29, 2023

Patricia Ann ‘Patches’ Holmes passed away peacefully onSunday, January 29, 2023. She was predeceased by her parents, Bertha Stanton Albert and Adrian Francis Albert of Wheeling, WV, her sister, Katherine Albert Sher, her husband Joseph J. Holmes Sr. and her son, Joseph J. Holmes Jr.

Patches is survived by her sisters, Jaqueline Yohe (Dwight), and Margaret Connolly and her brother, Adrian Albert (Elvira); her children: Colleen Holmes Laliberte (Raymond), Daughter-in- law, Paula Pasden Holmes (Joseph J Holmes, Jr ), Charles Holmes (Kristine Karmazon), and Maureen Holmes Dittmar Barker (David); Her grandchildren: Jessica Laliberte Bowman (Jerry), Zachary Laliberte (Lysandra), Timothy Kelly (Rebecca), Nathan Holmes (Ashlee), Megan Holmes (Chris), Sarah Holmes, Luke Holmes, Michael Holmes, Teresa Holmes, Ryan Holmes, Michael Dittmar, Shane Dittmar, Crysta Dittmar, Faith Dittmar and her great grandchildren: Liam & Weston Bowman, Zada & Violet Laliberte, Tova and Thomas Kelly, Evie, Madeline, Felicity & Emily Holmes, Shay Patches Dittmar; and many nieces & nephews.

After raising their four children, Patches earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Appalachian History from Wheeling Jesuit University in 1988, where she was the recipient of the Kairos Award for Outstanding Contributions in Teaching and Research. After graduating, she considered New Hampshire home when not traveling as an artist. She started her work with Riverbend Mental Health Center of Concord NH as a Music and Arts Therapist, and Dover NH Children’s Home as a Counselor.

She was a Folklife Artisan, founding A Touch of Tradition Folk School, sharing 23 years of heritage programs, many of which were funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio River Border Initiative Grant, and various Chambers of Commerce, State Agricultural Departments and Tourism Councils.

The pedagogy she offered included college curricula, elder hostel programs, and the Very Special Arts. Patches loved sharing her work in Naturalist Studies including Appalachian Culture and History, Fiber Arts, Basketry, Rug-Braiding, Natural Dyes, and Folk Dances & Music. She taught at many schools, including: the John C. Campbell Folk School, West Virginia Northern Community College, the Stifel Fine Arts Center and Oglebay Park’s Nature Center.

Patches shared her work in communities in Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont. She worked with Boys and Girls’ Clubs of America, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorer Scouts, community theatres, and Cooperative Extension 4-H. She enjoyed participating in historic reenactments, and loved giving demonstrations of her knowledge, artistry, and skills at county and city fairs and festivals around the country.

As a folk musician, classically trained in Vocal Music, she also taught mountain dulcimer, bowed psaltery, harmonica and the spoons. Her artwork was adjudicated by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

Before becoming a Folk Artist, Patches worked at the Wheeling, WV Telephone Company and WTRF-TV Channel 7.

Her talents and titles are too many to list but her greatest talent was sharing love, creating art that blended her love of nature with her love of family, and telling stories. Above all else, she most cherished the role of Mom, Grammy, Nona, and Aunt Pat. Who Patches was is a story that will unfold for generations to come. She was the brightest light with a smile that could lift even the lowest of spirits. The world may never know anyone again who is as patient, kind & free spirited. She left a mark on everyone who met her. She taught that it was okay to cry, laughter is the best medicine, snowball fights in July are fun, and it’s okay to have breakfast for dinner. She loved nature walks, bedtime tea, crawdad and peeper hunting, snake catching, spider saving, and shell collecting. As she would always say, ‘I’ll meet you on a star’.

Schedule of Services