Obituary of Patricia Drance

Patricia A. Drance, born on February 9, 1960 passed peacefully into paradise on Sunday, April 5, 2020 ending a 5 year battle with cancer. Pat was born and raised in Oswego, NY, by her loving parents Stanley and Cleo Thomas, with her brothers, David and Robert, and sisters, Sandy and Cathy. While studying at SUNY Oswego, she met her husband Michael Drance in 1978. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology cum laude in 1982 and married Michael the following year in Oswego. Pat and Michael made their home in Huntington, NY where they raised their two wonderful sons, Derek and Myles Drance. Pat worked as an insurance professional for nearly 40 years starting in a local insurance agency in Oswego and continuing her career in Huntington. She worked her way up from personal lines customer service representative to several high level supervisory and managerial roles in the insurance industry. Pat was well-respected by her employers, co-workers, and clients who found her experience, knowledge, and expertise invaluable. She was known for her exemplary work ethic and professionalism building many close relationships over the years. In her personal time, Pat enjoyed traveling, biking, hiking, reading, baking and spending time with family and friends. Travel was one of her great passions, taking her to many memorable destinations throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean with Michael and her sons. In the summer of 2018 she traveled with her family and a group of close friends to Peru where they hiked the Inca Trail and explored the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. Patricia was an active parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Centerport, NY for close to 30 years. She made everyone around her better with her sweetness, generosity, patience, humility, empathy and contagious smile. Whether you’ve known her for 50 years or 5 minutes, her kindness and genuine disposition were always apparent. Pat was the ultimate mother, partner, sibling and friend, and a perfect example of Christian love. She joins her Father, Stanley, and sisters, Sandy and Cathy in God’s grace. Due to current circumstances there will be no immediate public arrangements in her honor. At the appropriate time, a celebration of Pat’s life will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Patricia’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org and please be sure to check the “Dedicate my Donation” box. Thank you all sincerely for your continued love and support.