Patricia Carlson Bartlett

Patricia Carlson Bartlett, age 77, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly on October 6, 2025.

Patti was born to Ernest and Marie Carlson in Penn Yan, New York. After graduating from Penn Yan Academy, she met and married Keith Bartlett, her beloved husband for 59 years. Patti and Keith had three children, Scott, Michelle (Shelly), and Matthew. When asked about her life during the early years of her marriage and family, she’d say “I had three under five, and too wonderfully busy to remember much else.”

As her children grew and started school, she decided to pursue her professional passion in nursing. Patti was accepted to the nursing program at Keuka College, and later graduated magna cum laude with a bachelors degree – a impressive achievement for a devoted full-time mother and wife. Patti’s degree was a team effort. She was always thankful for Keith’s support and stepped up parenting, the kids learning how to do chores, and Patti often typed out her term papers with Matt on her lap…

Patti started her nursing career working at Clifton Springs Hospital, where she gained essential experience and added life long friends. She later transitioned to work closer to home at Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan as a nursing supervisor, and often being called to the emergency room for help when a critical patient came through. She was universally known to be a fierce advocate for her patients – an exacting and appreciative leader, unafraid to raise potential issues, and question courses of care in order to help protect patients in need. She always spoke glowingly of the doctors, nurses, and support staff she was honored to serve with in her hometown. Upon leaving the hospital, Patti began traveling throughout the region as a hospice nurse – helping innumerable patients and families.

In 1985, Patti’s life was forever altered after the tragic loss of her daughter, Shelly. The acute pain of that loss was felt and endured every day until her recent passing. She often expressed gratitude for the support of her siblings, parents extended family, friends, and the whole community during and after that time, but realized early on that there was never going to be a true recovery for her from the hole Shelly’s passing left in her heart.

Fortunately, some new life was breathed into Patti with the arrival of her first grandchild, Catherine Michelle Bartlett. Catherine immediately put the light back in Patti’s eye, and she drew immeasurable enjoyment from spending time with and getting reports on her lively Catherine Michelle.

Patti and Keith moved to Charleston, South Carolina – to be nearer to Matt and his young family. Patti took great pride and solace in taking care of her grandchildren – Nora, Jack and Luke. While in Charleston, Patti resumed her nursing career, working at Roper Hospital in a chemotherapy clinic, helping patients battle against the dreaded disease – a fight, unfortunately, she knew personally all too well as a two time cancer survivor. After retiring from the hospital, Patti went back to working at Hospice in Charleston, where she stayed until her retirement.

Patti and Keith decided to return to Keith’s roots, and bought and renovated a fishing cabin on Spring Creek in central Pennsylvania. Scott and his family bought the house next door as a second home, and shortly thereafter a new treasure was added to Patti’s life with the birth of her last grandchild, and new neighbor (and buddy), Noble Keith Bartlett, who she enjoyed reading to and pitching to through her last day.

Patti and Keith were fortunate and grateful to make new friends and enjoy warm weather, spending winters near the ocean in Boynton Beach, Florida. Family and friends were everything to Patti. Her warmth, vibrant smile, wit, deep caring, and ruthless euchre playing will be greatly missed.

Patricia Carlson Bartlett was predeceased by her daughter Nora Michelle Bartlett, and her parents Ernest and Marie Carlson of Dresden. She is survived by her husband M. Keith Bartlett, her sons Scott (Erin) Bartlett, and Matthew (Tracy) Bartlett, sister Carol (Jim) Griswold, brothers Ernest (Pam) Carlson, and Paul (Lisa) Carlson, her grandchildren, Catherine, Nora, Jack, Luke, Aspen, McKenzie, Avery and Noble, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Services will be held at noon on November 8, 2025 at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Penn Yan, to be immediately followed by a luncheon for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Patti’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org). Weldon Funeral Home of Penn Yan is assisting the family.