Obituary of Patricia Sundermeyer

Mother, wife, grandmother, sister & friend were roles that Patricia Sundermeyer enjoyed most during her life from 1939 to March 11, 2018. Sadly for all who knew her, she passed away after a year-long illness, peacefully and surrounded by her immediate family. Her loss is also mourned by many devoted friends and extended family from California to the east coast and Europe.

 

Pat was such a loving, generous and sweet-natured person, always interested in the welfare of others and seeking new understanding and knowledge. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, an avid reader and deep thinker who made friends easily everywhere she went. Even people who knew her briefly were impressed by her warm personality and life-affirming outlook. Her gentle presence and beautiful smile will be keenly missed by all.

 

She is survived by her very loving husband Niels and two sons, five loving grandchildren ages 14-21 and her sister Nancy, as well as relatives on the east coast and overseas.

 

Born on Long Island, NY of parents Frank & Marjorie, she attended Notre Dame of Maryland College and later taught French to young school children. Married to Niels Sundermeyer after college in 1961, she gave birth to sons Mike & Ken while Niels served as a U.S. Navy officer in Virginia and Maryland. She moved to California in 1965 with their young family and lived in Oakland and Los Angeles before settling in Santa Cruz County in 1970, where they lived in Soquel, Aptos and finally Santa Cruz.  

 

Pat & Niels opened Sunflower Natural Foods, a health food store on 41st Ave. which they ran from 1970 until 1973, when Niels became a real estate agent and broker. Pat served proudly as a full-time volunteer for Creative Initiative Foundation which later became Beyond War, an educational foundation, sometimes traveling to the Fresno & Visalia areas leading discussion groups and larger gatherings in an effort to end the arms race and bring peace. She has always been a seeker of truth, meaning & social justice as well as preserving our environment and has devoted much of her adult life in support of these goals. Pat had an infectious, positive and loving nature that endeared her to many, and she was constantly seeking to make the world a better place for all living beings.

 

She loved reading & new ideas, tending her large garden with fruit trees, eating healthy foods, travel, movies, theater, swimming, knitting, music & time with her family.

 

A celebration of her life will be held in April on April 22. Donations in her name to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Habitat for Humanity or your favorite charity would be a worthy tribute to our beloved Pat.

 

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