Patricia Mae “Patsy” Borgesen

Patricia “Patsy” Mae Borgesen passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loving family, on September 12, 2021 at the age of 89.

Patsy was born on May 15, 1932 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The fourth of six children, she was raised in Aberdeen by two incredibly gentle parents who led by example: how to be kind and generous with their time and talents. Patsy graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1950. She went on to earn her degree in nursing from St. Luke’s Nursing College in 1953 in Aberdeen.

Her career in nursing is what led her to rekindle her relationship with the man who would be her husband of 65 years, Dr. Paul B. Borgesen. Patsy used her training as a surgical nurse and scrubbed in many times with Paul on their 5 trips to South America as part of Esperança, a hospital boat on the Amazon River. She gave up her scrubs early on and found her true calling as an amazing mother to seven loving children.

Patsy and Paul created a beautiful life together with their large family. Their home on Central Avenue, while never quiet, was a sanctuary for family, friends, dogs, horses, and anyone looking for safe haven. No matter how chaotic their home or lives were, Patsy always exuded grace, love and compassion. She was the epitome of “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. To know her was to love her. Her passing will leave a void in this world, but heaven is lucky to have her.

Patsy and Paul’s marriage and relationship grew stronger every year. A relationship rooted in a steadfast faith, the two were inseparable. When asked about his wife, Papa says, “Oh, it is a love beyond words. Gram lives in my soul. Simply seeing her is a treat. Her smile, I just love it. It makes me melt.”

Patsy had many passions but her greatest one was her family. She enjoyed doing just about anything alongside her family: hiking, fishing, skiing, hunting, cooking, and riding horses alike. She maintained an active lifestyle even into her later years with weekly Curves workouts. She found joy in the simple things in life, including tending to her rose garden, enjoying a cup of coffee on the front porch in Pinetop, popcorn and wine on the back patio, and playing cards with her friends.

Patsy is survived by her husband Paul Borgesen, children Paul (Beth) Borgesen, Mark Borgesen, Peter (Vicki) Borgesen, Phillip Borgesen, and Julie (Jim) Wentworth, siblings Diane Streitz, Constance Kenyon, and Ann (Dick) Rollins, 13 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her daughters Jane (Tom) Johnston and Mary Beth (Bob) Suiter, parents Irving and Constance Warner, and siblings Irving Warner Jr. and Kathleen Warner.

Visitation will be held at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018, on Friday, September 17, 2021 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm with a Rosary at 6:00pm. Funeral services will be at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 19640 N 35th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308, on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 10:00am. Her Committal Service will be held at 9:00am on Monday, September 20, 2021 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, 23015 N Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to Hospice of the Valley or St. Vincent De Paul in memory of Patsy Borgesen.