Mildred “Millie” Patton, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family. Born on July 10, 1935, in Harrison, New York, Millie was the daughter of Sebastian and Antoinette Strange. She graduated from Harrison High School in 1953 and went on to build a long and dedicated career at Prudential in Holmdel, where she worked for more than 25 years.

To her family, Millie was the heart of the family, and the quintessential Italian mother/grandmother. She loved her daughters, Carol (Steve) Miller, Debbie Patton, and Susan (Greg) Vassallo, and formed an extraordinary bond with each of her grandchildren: Mandi (Bobby), Tori (Matt), Zach (Monica), Daniel, Lily, Samantha, and Chad. She was a great- grandmother to Connor, Logan, and Theo. Millie was predeceased by her cherished granddaughter, Olivia, whom she now joins in eternal peace.

Determined to stay connected with those she loved, Millie learned how to text in her 70s so she could keep up with her grandchildren. Millie was completely devoted to her family and loved cooking for her grandchildren. Every time you walked into her house, the first question would be, “do you want something to eat?”  She is famous for her Italian dishes, including sauce and meatballs, as well as her signature dish – Eggplant Parmesan.

Millie was an avid reader, often reading a good book lying on her couch. In her 50s, she embraced a new adventure and learned to sail, spending many beautiful days on the Jersey Shore waters with her partner, Fred, who predeceased her.

If there was one word that described Millie, it would be “nervous” – she worried constantly — that was her love language, strange as it sounds. “Call me when you get home.” “Text me when you get there.”  And there were no boundaries to this worrying. She believed worrying was her God-given responsibility. If she could think of every possible thing that could go wrong, then maybe—just maybe—the Good Lord would make sure it didn’t happen.

She was the family Martyr – she sacrificed her entire life for her family. Her worry, her directness, her frugality — that was all love. Everything she did, every choice she made, was for her family.

In addition to her granddaughter Olivia, she is also predeceased by her parents; her sister, Tessie; and her brother, Carmine.

Millie will be remembered for her honesty, her generosity, and her unwavering love and devotion to her family. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of those she loved so deeply.

May her memory be a blessing, and may she rest in eternal peace.