Patty

November 29, 2009

by Jim Valentino

Ken and Patty Krueger

Ken and Patty Krueger

In any discussion about Ken it would be remiss not to recall the love of his life, Patty.

It is inconceivable to me that anyone could meet Patty and not fall in love with her. She was one of the kindest, loving, honest and wonderful human beings I have ever encountered and my life was enriched simply by knowing her.

After she and Ken moved to Buffalo I would get periodic calls from Patty asking me to call Ken and cheer him up. I always figured she must have done this while either she or he was out of the house as Ken would always seem surprised when I called him. I would call Ken, usually the following day, and do my best to get him laughing.

Ken had been in and out of the hospital and sickly for years. Open heart surgeries, dialysis, trouble walking, all of the ravages time plays on our bodies. It was a complete shock when I got the call from Gus that Patty had passed on December 31, 2006.

After all those years of caring for Ken through all of his surgeries, illnesses and the depression they caused him, hers came on swiftly and devastatingly. Ken was never the same. He kept as good a face on it as he could, but the anguish never left his voice for the remainder of his days.

She is still missed and still loved, especially by her two adoring sons, Pete and Gus, who couldn’t have asked for a better mother.

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