Patricia
“Pat” Ann Markle, a lifelong Vermonter known for her deep
compassion, dedication to social work, and love for family and
community, passed away peacefully from respiratory failure on
February 12, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester.
She was 85.
Born
on May 31, 1939, in Burlington, Vt., to Ralph “Bucky” Markle and
Ruth McGovern, Pat, along with her late sister, Mary McNamara, was
raised in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, attending Mount St.
Mary Academy from kindergarten through high school, from which she
graduated with an English-scientific course of study in 1957.
Continuing her education at Trinity College in Burlington, Pat earned
her bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1961, setting the foundation
for a life dedicated to helping others.
Pat
had a career in social work spanning over four decades, beginning
with Vermont Catholic Charities before joining Fletcher Allen
Hospital (now the University of Vermont Medical Center) in 1973. Over
the next 30 years, she served as a social worker and eventually
became head of the Social Services Department, retiring in 2004. Even
after a brief attempt at retirement, Pat’s boundless energy kept
her finding ways to give back. Her commitment to the elderly
continued as director of St. Joseph’s Home for the Aging in
Burlington and later through her work running McAuley Square, where
she managed programs supporting both seniors and families.
During
her professional career, Pat took numerous graduate courses at Saint
Michael’s College and the University of Vermont. Her dedication to
the field was recognized when she was named Vermont Social Worker of
the Year. Known by coworkers for being compassionate and down to
earth, she genuinely enjoyed working with people in need, especially
parents. Always prepared to share what was on her mind, yet with a
presence that kept you at ease, she was a mentor to many in the
field.
Pat’s
life was defined not only by her career but also by her deep love for
family. In 1975, she adopted her first son, Joshua, from Cambodia,
and two years later, she adopted her second son, Seth, from
Louisville, Ky. Understanding the importance of family ties, Pat was
later adopted as an adult by the family of her closest friend, Julia
Alarie, ensuring her children grew up with grandparents.
An
independent woman of many hobbies, Pat loved snowshoeing,
cross-country skiing, horseback riding, leaf peeping, driving the
back roads of Vermont with the car windows down, and reading a book
on her back porch overlooking Camel’s Hump. She had a fondness for
Harley motorcycles and peaceful vacations along the coast of Maine.
She was also a lover of dogs. From German shepherds to collies to
beagles to Irish wolfhounds to golden retrievers to greyhounds, Pat
owned over 10 dogs in her lifetime.
Pat
is survived by her two sons and one daughter-in-law, Joshua Markle
(Elly Haven) of Burlington and Seth Markle of Hartford, Conn.; one
nephew and one niece whom she helped raise, Ben Alarie (Carrie) of
Mesa, Ariz.; and Meena LaFlamme (Richard) of Vass, N.C.; three
grandchildren, Jakob, Brady and Tres; four sisters, Julia Alarie,
Ruth Ring, Laurie Ring and Hope Ring; and two brothers, Wilson Ring
and David Ring. She also leaves behind many other family members,
friends, former colleagues and community members whose lives she
touched. Her legacy is one of compassion, independence and devotion
to family.
A
celebration of Pat’s life will be held at Resurrection Park
Cemetery on May 31, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception at
Pizza 44 (703 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401) between 12 and 2
p.m.
This article appears in The Money & Retirement Issue 2025.