Patricia A. Blades died peacefully on the evening of August 17th after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She was 74.

A loving wife, mother and grandmother, she was beloved by all. She was born on March 9,1952 to Kenneth and Amy James. She was raised in Melrose and was very proud of her family's long history in the city, beginning in 1896. She attended Winthrop School followed by Melorse Jr and Sr High School. While in high school she played basketball and traveled to London, England on a memorable class trip.

On October 3, 1971 she married Joseph Blades and a year later had her first child.

She took great joy in her family, friends, and the First Congregational Church of Melrose, of which she was a lifelong member. She was a lover of animals, dogs especially, and of caring for the elderly. She took great pleasure in playing "Go Fish" and watching Family Feud with her grandchildren and dancing to anything with a snappy beat, especially her favorite song Twist and Shout. She loved talking to strangers, bargain shopping, baking Christmas cookies, making crafts, coin and stamp collecting, walking her dog and a glass of milk with each meal.

A hard-working Friendly's waitress for 37 years and a dedicated homemaker, she is survived by her husband Joseph Blades of Missoula, Montana who lovingly cared for her for the past 7 years. She moved several times during her 55 years of marriage residing in Massachusetts, Michigan, South Carolina and Montana, though her heart always remained in Melrose.

She is survived by her four children: Lorie Lochridge of Missoula, Montana, Julie Blades Hansen of Temecula, California, Ryan Blades of Melrose, Massachusetts, and Molly Toth of Hampden, Massachusetts and her nine grandchildren Irelyn, Teya, Delaney, Logan, Lucy, Sam, Winston, Lumen, and Woody.

She was deeply loved by all "that's for sure."❤

There will be a celebration of life memorial service in Melrose, Massachusetts at the First Congressional Church on November 7th. Details will be posted on the website of Garden City Funeral Home of Missoula, Montana.