Kim Joanne (DeFilippo) Patterson

Kim Joanne Patterson, 61, of Canonsburg, died Sunday, December 2, 2018, after a long and valiant battle with cancer.

She was born January 26, 1957, in Washington, a daughter of  Joseph and Sylvia Rodighiero DeFilippo.  Kim was a member of St. Patrick Church, Canonsburg.

A woman of strength, courage, determination and unwavering fearlessness, Kim faced her diagnosis head on and was determined to beat the odds.  She did just that and when given six months to survive, Kim chose to LIVE for 6 years.  Kim was an amazing artist, she traveled to many places, spent time with her family and most of all loved and adored the two lights of her life, her grandchildren, Bella and Brian.  Kim’s passion for her work was unmatched.  She began her career as a Secretary and Medical Transcriptionist at Canonsburg hospital where she worked for 17 years.  However, she found her voice representing others for what is right and just.  Kim went on to become a long time activist and leader of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, the largest Healthcare Union in the Commonwealth.

Kim’s drive and focus are what allowed her to rise through the ranks as she went on to hold positions including District Vice-President, Executive Vice-President, and lastly Secretary-Treasurer, the 2nd ranking officer of the statewide union. Even after Kim’s diagnosis in 2012 she continued to work for SEIU as she believed with all of her heart that this work was too important to walk away from.  In 2016, after 38 years as a member and leader of the union, Kim was forced to retire so that she could focus on her family and fighting her illness, which would become the final battle of her life.  Kim was preceded in death by her father, Joseph A. DeFilippo, and her sister, Ianne DeFilippo.  In addition to her mother, Kim is survived by son and daughter-in-law Brian and Gia Patterson; son and daughter-in-law Chris and Angel Patterson; her cherished grandchildren Isabella and Brian A. Patterson; her companion, James Batch, Jr.; her brother, Joseph M. (Vanessa) DeFilippo; her sister, Amanda Butler; several

nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received Thursday, 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8pm, at the Sollon Funeral and Cremation Services, LTD, 30 East College Street, Canonsburg, Phillip L. Sollon, supervisor, J. David Sollon, director, 724-746-1000.

Departing prayers will be recited in the funeral home, Friday, at 9:30am, followed by a Mass of Christian burial, in St. Patrick Church, at 10am. 

Interment will follow in the St. Patrick Cemetery, Canonsburg.

The family kindly suggests memorial contributions be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, www.npcf.org, or the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, in Kim Patterson's name.

Please visit www.sollon.com to leave online condolences.

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