Mary Patricia "Pat" Ruffing's Obituary
Mary Patricia "Pat" Ruffing, age 83, longtime resident of West Mifflin, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Pat was born on May 8, 1942, the daughter of the late John and Kathryn Donahue. Pat was the beloved wife to John "Jack" Ruffing; the loving mother of Deborah (Joe) Kozlowski, Richard Ruffing, and Mark Ruffing; and the adoring grandmother of Ryan (Fiancee, Lisa Maccaglia) Kozlowski and Caitlyn Kozlowski. She also leaves her brother, John (Dolly) Donahue; sisters, Peggy (the late, Don) Miller and Jean (Al) Duval; and many cherished nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Gregory Ruffing; sister, Kay (Ed) Daerr and brother, Tom (the late Marlene) Donahue. Pat's life was a testament to love, kindness, and selflessness. For 63 cherished years, she was a dedicated wife to Jack, and her greatest calling was that of being a mother and grandmother. Pat cared deeply for her family and friends and was a natural caregiver, always ready to lend a helping hand to elderly neighbors and nurture children with unwavering love. Pat found immense joy in her role as a grandmother, extending her affection to her great nieces and nephews, who fondly referred to her as their "surrogate" grandmother. Her compassion and generosity knew no bounds, as she consistently put the needs of others before her own. An enthusiast of nature's simple pleasures, Pat took delight in feeding the birds and tending to her flower and tomato gardens. She had a love of dancing and a passion for sports. She often supported her husband, who was a teacher and coach at West Mifflin, by never missing a basketball game. Pat ensured that game nights were made special by preparing warm meals for the team and staff. She helped her grandchildren explore their athletic talents, even teaching her grandsons how to dribble a basketball. Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for visitation from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. A service in honor of Pat will be held at 2:00 pm in the chapel at the funeral home. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer's Association: Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, 2835 E Carson St Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 or to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To leave online condolences please visit www.jeffersonmemorial.com
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