NOTE ON LITURGICAL SERVICES FOR SR. PATRICIA GLEN:
- Vigil Service: Thursday, September 10 at 3:30pm (Chapel at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Ave SW, Seattle, Washington)
- Join virtually, via Zoom (click link to join)
- Funeral Mass: Friday, September 11 at 11am (Chapel at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Ave SW, Seattle, Washington)
- Join virtually, via Zoom (click link to join)
- A recording of the Funeral Mass will be made available in this post, following its conclusion
Sister Patricia Glen, age 73, a Sister of Providence for 50 years, died on August 26, 2026 at Swedish First Hill Hospital in Seattle.
Sr. Patricia was born in Tacoma on August 24, 1953, and experienced life in a community setting from the very start. She entered the world with a twin brother, Richard, and became the seventh of 19 children to James and Renee (Bostwick) Glen. In emulating her lifelong love of flowers, Sr. Patricia bloomed into an extroverted, generous, joyful, and easy-going person through the support of her close-knit family, who held prayer central in their home.
She was educated by Franciscans while growing up in the South Sound, and graduated from St. Leo High School in Tacoma. Her parents had set a strong example for a loving family life, but God had another calling in store for Sr. Patricia. As her activity grew in her parish, so too did the spirituality within herself.
This inner call led Sr. Patricia to meet with a group of Sisters of Providence, including Sr. Margaret Botch. Both parties felt she’d be a great fit in the community, and by September of 1975, she’d become a postulant, and then a novice around her 23rd birthday in August 1976. She made her Final Vows in 1983, while earning a Bachelor of Art in Religious Studies at Gonzaga University during her introductory years of religious life.
Throughout her prolific half-century of ministries as a Sister of Providence, a thread of bringing joy to others links her experiences. Initial parish ministry works included ministering at St. Brendan Parish in Bothell, Washington (1979-81), and then directing youth and religious education at St. Luke Parish in nearby Shoreline (1983-88).
Beginning in 1989, Sr. Patricia pursued service in the Sisters’ health care ministry. She first interned in pastoral care at Providence Portland Medical Center, and then stepped into the challenging, hands-on ministry of chaplaincy across town at St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center in Portland.
The in 1990, a new ministry opportunity in central Washington for Sr. Patricia, as she became the director of pastoral care at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Yakima.
In 1998, Sr. Patricia came to Seattle to minister to her community as a staff assistant at St. Joseph Residence, where her famed “Oh, honey!” greeting frequently brought smiles to the faces of her fellow Sisters and staff members. She also served as Mission Integration Director at Providence Mount. St. Vincent, beginning in 2000.
Sr. Patricia also held several leadership positions in support of her local communities. She deeply enjoyed witnessing the community evolve, while gaining new members from all over the world throughout the past five decades. Her favorite color was pink, which adorned the walls of her room, and she also enjoyed swimming and walks.
While reflecting on her ministries, Sr. Patricia once said, “I hope that I am making a difference. And I know I will if I don’t get in the way. I will offer what I am as generously as I can, and I know God will use that and things will be better.”
The countless lives she touched and the uplifting love she gave to her Sisters and family speaks to the immense impact she made throughout her life.
Sr. Patricia’s parents James and Renee Glen, and her brothers Mark Glen, Patrick Glen, Thomas Glen, Michael Glen, Joseph Glen, Barry Glen, and Richard Glen preceded her in death. She is survived by her sisters Barbara Glen Newlin, Terry Glen Walker, Sue Glen, Paula Glen, Elaine Rush Glen, Nancy Glen, Gloria (Tom) Glen Otten, Amy (Ed) Glen Gookin, Julia Glen, Caroline Glen and Charlotte Glen, and by her brothers James (Beanie) Glen and William Glen, her extended family, along with the Sisters in her religious community.
Memorial contributions may be made in Sr. Patricia’s honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, M1-C, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
