Patricia M. Gifford

Patricia Mary Gifford, beloved wife of Paul Gifford, passed away peacefully at home on September 18, 2024, surrounded by her family. 

Patti was born on July 8, 1942, to Herman “Bill” and Lucina Toof in Providence, RI. After graduating from St. Mary Academy Bay View in 1960, she attended Bryant College graduating in 1963. 

In 1964, Patti met Paul, and they wed in 1966, going on to have two daughters, Honor and Lucina. As Paul was in the Air Force, they moved around a lot and were fortunate to live in several different countries. She enjoyed learning about the cultures in each of the countries where they were stationed and often participated in local activities. Patti often volunteered with the American Red Cross and was active in services improving quality of life for military families.

Patti was a faith-filled woman who inspired others in their faith journey. She was a devout Catholic, actively participating in numerous services in her churches. She served as a lector, eucharistic minister, sang and played guitar in the choir, and her greatest joy was working with the youth in several of the parishes where they were stationed. While at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Columbia she became active in the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH). She was president of the Howard County division for several years. One of her favorite activities was walking in the Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Patti was an avid skier, which is how she met Paul. As a young girl, she and her family would spend weekends skiing in Vermont. She eventually joined the ski patrol at Mount Snow in West Dover, VT. Rarely did a winter go by that she did not ski and having lived all over the world, she got to ski in places she didn’t dream of as a child. She enjoyed going to Colorado for a few weeks in January/February to ski, a tradition she participated in until 2022.

Patti was immensely talented and creative. She enjoyed sewing making Halloween costumes for her daughters, she sewed their prom dresses, and the wedding dress for Lucina and her four attendants. One of her favorite parts of this hobby was hand sewing kimonos for Japanese dolls. She amassed a collection of over 20 Japanese dolls. She put her sewing skills to practice making sashes for the LAOH members to wear to functions and the Parade. Patti also enjoyed decorating the house for each holiday. In her later years she picked up knitting and would knit scarves for friends and family.

She is survived by her husband, Paul, daughters Honor Sanderford and son-in-law Marvin, Lucina Wall and son-in-law Shannon, grandson Jordan Wall, her brother William A. Toof and sister-in-law Nancy, and sister Andrea M. Toof, and several nieces and nephews, grand-kitties and a grand-puppy, as well as equine nieces and nephews. Patti was predeceased by her parents Herman “Bill” and Lucina C. Toof.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Covenant House, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

A viewing will be held at Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, 4112 Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD on Tuesday, September 24 from 2-4 and 6-8. Her funeral will be held at noon on Wednesday, September 25 at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 10431 Twin Rivers Drive, Columbia, MD. Burial will be in Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, at a later date.

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