Funeral Mass for Patti O'Malley, 60, of Sisseton, South Dakota will be held on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Sisseton, South Dakota with Rev. Fr. Jerry Ranek officiating. Organist will be Ollie Yost with song leaders Cindy Marohl and Sandy Jaspers. Pallbearers will be Paul Leece, Craig Leece, Bill Bramwell, Mark Lawler, Steven Lawler, and Kenneth Currence. Interment will be in the St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Cahill Funeral Chapel and at St. Peter's Catholic Church from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service starting at 7:00 P.M. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Patti passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 26 ^th at Tekakwitha Living Center, while tenderly cared for by the staff, blessed by her priest and surrounded by family and friends. She had endured a long journey with early onset Alzheimer's disease and was well prepared to meet her God.

Patti was born to Gib and Maxine Leece on March 26 ^th , 1958 in Cartwright, Manitoba, Canada and remained a Canadian citizen until her death. She was the first born in a family of seven children, she often helped with her siblings and took the responsibility of the position with pride. She began her work life at an early age and was able to buy her first car which she soon traded for a new blue Mustang. She met Michael in Cartwright, where they fell in love and were married. Patti and Michael were blessed with two children, Erin Elizabeth and Jared Michael both born in Killarney, Manitoba. As life progressed, the family moved to Minot, ND, and then to Sisseton, SD where they were welcomed into the community and made it their forever home. Patti worked several years as a bank teller before finding a home at Data Management as a bookkeeper where she welcomed every person that walked through the door with her beautiful smile and love for life. She made sure her children got a well rounded education including music lessons, 4-H, and Boy Scouts, and she mentored them in life skills. She was extremely proud of them, their families, their work ethic and their compassion. Michael was her shoulder to lean on, her confidant and her best friend. After her diagnosis she decided that the disease would not destroy the life she had built and continued to work and live her life with the fullness and gusto she always had. Michael whole-heartedly cared for her at home in the same way she had taken care of him for so many years, but he soon learned that this was an impossible task as she had done so much for him during their life together. Patti moved to the Golden Living Center in Milbank in 2016 where she was cared for by an exceptional staff and made many new friends. Later it became evident that she would need additional care so she then moved closer to home to Tekakwitha Living Center in Sisseton where again she received care that exceeded expectations. No matter where she was she soon became everyones friend. She was an amazing caring woman that somehow even in her illness was able to look out for her family and friends. She passed along so many of her outstanding qualities to her children and grandchildren.

She will be missed by her husband Michael; children Erin (Ross) Hanson and Jared (Amber) O'Malley; grandchildren Gage and Quinn Hanson, Logen, Chloe and Aiden Schake; parents Gib and Maxine Leece; mother-in-law Jeanice Lawler; siblings Cheri (Morley) Bourns, Trent Leece, Craig (Colleen) Leece, Barb (Bill) Bramwell, Paul (Jackie) Leece, Marcie (Peter) Downy; brothers- and sisters-in-law Maureen O'Malley (Tom Facey), Pat O'Malley, Peg (Ron) Hendrickson, Mary Lawler, Teresa (Tim) Hendrickson, Monica (Kim) Bucholz, Barb (Randy) Hill, Steve (Sheli) Lawler, Mark Lawler; her angel on earth Carol and long-time friend and employer Colette.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and father-in-law Mike Lawler.