Patience Eye

Patience “Kitty” Winslow Eye, born on December 9th, 1955 to Ralph F.W. Eye Jr. and Patricia Irene Micue Eye, and one of Maine’s prominent nurses, passed away peacefully on September 13th, 2021, at the age of 65, after a long battle with lung cancer.
Patience is predeceased by her brother Lance Farnham Eye, her father, Ralph, and her sister, Constance Jessica Eye. She is survived by her 2 beloved daughters, Hope Eye of Brewer, Maine and Grace Eye of Bangor, her mother, Patricia, her brother, John Winslow Eye, both from Eddington and her precious niece, Jennie Eye Burnett-Fischer of Escondido, California.
A Bangor native, In her early life, she attended schools around the world, from Geneva Switzerland to Yangon, Burma, and Saigon Vietnam. She graduated high school from the Joint Embassy School in Jakarta, Indonesia with fluency in 4 languages and unforgettable experiences.
In her young adult years, she traveled the country, learning various trades in California and Louisiana, and explored her artistic and musical abilities throughout. She was especially gifted in music and regularly attended music festivals to learn and play with friends. She also received certification in massage therapy in Arkansas, and realized her love of caring for others. Ultimately, she leaned into her love of nursing in her home state of Maine, where she settled in Brewer with a B.S.N from University of Maine in 2000. Although Patience had many interests, she devoted herself fully to her passion of caring for others, and was especially passionate about her two daughters, Hope and Grace, who have come up into their own, both holding master’s degrees from Maine universities. She was always quick to say how proud she was of them. Patience was an active nurse as well as a soap maker until her cancer diagnosis in December 2019. It was difficult for her to give up her independence and let others take care of her even when she wasn’t sick, but she did it with grace.
Patience leaves behind a host of friends and relatives who will miss her kind smile, wit, and mischievous sense of humor. Those who spent enough time with her remember her infectious attitude and kind way of being. Hers was a rare soul who’s legacy surely continues on through those she loved. Patience’s only regret was not making it to the nude beach one last time.
The family wishes to thank New Hope Hospice, especially Meaghan, Angie, Lori, Petra, and Christii for their devoted care and friendship during this difficult time, especially while we all manage life with a pandemic. Also special thanks to Hope, who left her job and stayed with her mother to take care of her full time.
The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments 3 to 6 pm. Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, where a celebration of her life and memories will be shared at 5 pm.
Gifts in her memory may be sent to CHCS, New Hope Hospice, 42 Cedar St., Bangor, ME. 04401.
Be encouraged to wear bright colours, especially purple as it’s her favorite color, and bring instruments to play if you have them, keeping this true to the spirit of Kitty celebration of life.