Patricia Ann Darcey

Patricia Ann Leo Darcey, age 86, of Elkin, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026 at her home surrounded by love. After 5 years plus 2 days, Pat was reunited for the dance of all dances with her beloved Tom!

Pat was born on November 6, 1939, in Englewood, NJ, to John and Mae Madonna Leo. She moved to Elkin and became a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Darcey, and sister, Joanne Cedola.

Survivors include: her son; John Darcey and wife Dr. Jacqueline of Elkin; daughters, Mary Sweeney and fiancé Adam Arens of Delray, FL., Bernadette Risley and husband Dana of Hillsborough, NC, Lori Haggerty and husband Tom of River Edge, NJ, Katie McGarry and husband Brendan of Boonville, NC as well as her sister, Kathleen Leo of Interlaken, NJ.

Pat’s pride and joy were her grandchildren - Peter Squires and wife Emily, Darcey Parente and husband Sam, Shannon Sweeney and partner Diana Fertitta, Victoria Kinney and husband Joshua, Jerry Sweeney, Sarah Snyder and husband Andrew, Bridget Paul and husband Austin, Patrick Sweeney and wife Rachel, Jack Haggerty and wife Annmarie, T.J. Squires and partner Michael Varley, Brendan Leo McGarry and wife Sarah, MacKenzie VanNortwick and husband Matt, Matthew Haggerty, Griffin Darcey and fiancée Sarah Englert, Patrick McGarry, Nate McGarry and Elle McGarry and her two great-grandchildren Bailey and Rowena Haggerty.

Pat was an incredible woman and a true pioneer in the business world. Pat served as an Executive Director for National Community Bank, establishing herself as a successful and respected professional in the advertising and marketing world.

After her successful run at National Community Bank, together, she and her beloved husband Tom opened their own advertising agency.

Pat was a copywriter for most of her career and had a lifelong love of writing and storytelling. She eventually shared that passion with others by founding the writing group “Tell Your Story” at the Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center in Hillsborough, NC, giving others a place to share their experiences, memories, and voices. This group is still meeting monthly and still “Telling Their Stories.”

Pat will always be remembered as an amazing mother to her five children, loving Nana to her 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren and a devoted wife to Tom for more than 60 years. Her family was the center of her life, and she remained a loving and devoted mother until the day she died. She was a woman of tremendous strength, talent, determination, and love, but her greatest accomplishment was the family she created and the love she gave so freely to us all. She will be terribly missed by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and friends. However we are comforted knowing that the reunion with her beloved Tommy was something we wish we all could have seen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center, P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278, or Mountain Valley Hospice, 968 N. Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621.

Online condolences may be made at www.elkinfuneralservice.com.

Services entrusted to Elkin Funeral Service.