Patricia Sandberg

Patricia Eileen Taber Geagan Sandberg, died peacefully September 3, 2014 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Jeff Hodge of Etna. Pat lived with them during the last two years of her life and was nurtured and lovingly cared for every day. Pat was born in Bangor, May 21, 1922, the daughter of William Arnold and Catherine (Cullinan) Taber. She grew up in Bangor with her parents and three brothers. As a girl Pat enjoyed spending time at the family camp on Swett’s Pond in Orrington. She loved to recount the story of skating with her brothers down the Penobscot River from Bangor, then cross country skiing the rest of the way into camp. Pat was a proud graduate of Bangor High School, Class of 1940 and of Gilman Business College shortly after. She was a lifelong resident of Bangor leaving only for a few years during WWII, when she worked at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Her responsibilities included charting the daily, classified movements of all Coast Guard and Naval vessels around the world. Pat married John E. Geagan of Bangor in January, 1945. She traveled with her new husband until he was reassigned overseas. After the war, they made their home in Bangor where they raised their four children. Pat loved her family and community. She had many friends she kept in close touch with and was active in civic and social organizations. She was a stay at home Mom until 1964 when she returned to the workforce. She worked until 1988 retiring from her last position as registrar at Beal College. She was active in Patawa Club, the Holiday Club, Class of ’40, St. Mary’s Church and the Cemetery Angels among others. Pat loved all her summer vacations in Bayside (Northport), both as a young girl visiting her aunt and uncle all the way to raising her own family there every summer. Pat made many treasured friends and kept up with relatives during these happy summers. She loved to swim and sail. She inherited a life-long devotion to the Red Sox from her Dad with whom she attended the first of many games at Fenway Park. It was noted that in her bedroom there were three portraits on the wall; her Dad, Jesus and Jason Varitek. She was thrilled with their World Series wins. Pat loved taking pictures of family celebrations, travels and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She has left her family a permanent history recorded in many boxes and photo albums full of her pictures. In retirement Pat married Richard Sandberg. Pat and Dick lived in Bangor and wintered for many years in North Port, Florida. They enjoyed traveling, attending Elder Hostel programs, church dinners and drives in the country. Pat will be remembered as a loving and loyal mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her favorite times were with her children, visiting them, spending time in their homes with their families, meeting their friends and being a beloved part of their lives. She was a second special Mom to many of her children’s’ friends and received her nickname “Turtle” in honor of the speed at which she traveled through life. She never missed sending a beautiful card for every occasion to each family member with a personal note, a picture or two and lots of XXXs and OOOs. Pat was predeceased by her parents, two brothers, William Arnold “Buster” Taber Jr. and Gerald “Gerry” Taber as well as her first husband, John E. Geagan and second husband Richard Sandberg. Surviving are a brother, Norman Taber and his wife Retta of Palm Bay, FL.; sister-in-law, Ada Taber of Robbinston; two daughters, Colleen Robbins and her husband John of Orono, Kim Hodge and her husband Jeff of Etna; two sons Jack Geagan and his wife Joanne of Montville, Frank Geagan and his wife Rebecca of Pittsfield; stepson, Paul Sandberg and family of Washington; granddaughters, Melissa Jagger and her husband Eric of Winterport, Beth Mitchell and her husband Will of Orland; grandsons, Jake Geagan, Jesse Geagan, and his fiancé Brooke Gherardini and Justin Geagan all of Nantucket Island; great-granddaughter, Sophie Mitchell; great-grandsons, Joey Mitchell and Sam, Charlie and Owen Jagger; many dear cousins, nieces and nephews. Pat also leaves her dear best friend, Kay Gunn Day of Dunnellon, FL., with whom she grew up, raised families and shared good times and bad. Pat and Kay considered themselves sisters and remained in contact by phone nearly every day until the last day of Pat’s life. Relatives and friends are invited to call 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday September 8, 2014 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St. Bangor. A Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday September 9, 2014 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ohio St., Bangor, followed by the Rite of Committal at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. Those wishing to remember Pat in a special way may contribute in her memory to the Cemetery Angels, C/O St. Paul the Apostle Parish, 207 York St. Bangor, ME. 04401.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.