Patricia Louise (Ellwein) Tanaka

Patricia Tanaka Obituary
Patricia Louise Tanaka, 87, of Storrs Mansfield, CT passed away on June 21, 2024. She was born in Watertown, SD, daughter to the late Frederick “Pat” and Louise (Dingle) Ellwein.

Patty was a passionate supporter of her community, including her neighbors in the Storrs Heights circle, students at the University of Connecticut, and her fellow worshipers at Storrs Congregational Church. She attended South Dakota State University, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Home Economics in 1959 and her Master’s Degree in Communications in 1966. She then worked as a reporter for the Willimantic Chronicle, taught public speaking at UConn, and finally retired as part of UConn’s department of admissions for transfer students. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, and reading, particularly fantasy and science fiction. She was exceptionally generous, transforming countless lives through charitable donations and sage wisdom. Family and friends were everything to her, and she delighted in marking the birth of every child and grandchild in her extended circle with a handknit sweater and booties and an application to UConn for the year the child would turn eighteen.

Patty is survived by her sons Peter and his wife Lisa, and Paul and his wife Marta, grandchildren John and his wife Julia, Tyler, Stephanie and her husband Daniel, and Joseph and his fiancée Anna, siblings Jane, Bill and his wife Julie, and Cindy, and sister-in-law Iris Fukutaki. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. John Tanaka, and her brother Mike. She and John met at SDSU and were married for 53 years.

There are no calling hours. Her funeral service will be held on July 14th at 2:00pm at Storrs Congregational Church, 2 N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs Mansfield.


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