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Stephentown/New Lebanon – On February 5, 2014, Pat Sherman of Stephentown, NY, left the earth she loved so well. Born downstate, daughter of the late Lucille and Maury Medwick, she always knew there must be a place where she could live freely and unpretentiously, and once she found that place, she never left. She was an idealist and a realist who understood that the wilderness where she made her home had to be respected and fought for – she was a fighter through and through. She had little use for the things most people worried about – possessions, luxuries, even conveniences like electricity – but could love a tree to distraction and would go to any lengths to protect the creatures of the woods, many of which she rescued during her many years as a wildlife rehabilitator. It was not unusual for her to call a wild raccoon by name and see it come to her door. Her grandchildren remember how much fun it was to be with her; she had a wicked sense of humor.

In recent years she ran her antique shop in New Lebanon, NY, with the honest warmth, courtesy and cheerfulness she brought to her family, friends and the community that meant so much to her. Pat was too unsentimental to want to hear compliments like these, but those who loved her can’t hold them back now.

She leaves behind her children, Kelly Striefler of New Hampton, Bill Smith, of Stephentown and Kevin Smith of New Lebanon, her sisters, Sue Egen of Tucson, AZ, and Cathy Medwick of Somers, NY, and her grandchildren, Katelyn, Kimberly, Martin and M.J., Freling, Jessica, Candy, Linda, Michelle, William Jr., Jeanie and Kevin Jr.

Friends are invited to gather for refreshments and to celebrate Pat’s life at Smitty’s Pizza and Subs, Route 20, New Lebanon on Saturday, February 22, between 1 and 3 pm.