Patricia Anne (Peterson) Stromberg

Patricia Anne (Peterson) was born March 9, 1926 in Minneapolis, MN to Ernest K Peterson and Isabel I (Hall) Peterson. She passed away peacefully on December 18, 2019, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Robert (1925-2003) and children Joseph (1959), John (1954-1975), Tom (1953-2000) and Marcella (1964-2011), son-in-law Ron Sheppeard and grand-daughter Alena.

Pat received her RN training at the University of Minnesota as part of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps where she worked during and after WW ll. She married Robert P Stromberg in Minneapolis on June 18, 1949 and they moved to New Mexico in 1950. Pat and Bob were both deeply devoted to their Catholic faith, helping found Holy Ghost Church as well as being a founding family for St. Pius HS. They saw all of their children educated through Holy Ghost Grade School and St Pius HS.

Pat dedicated her life to her children.  These include Mary Sheppeard, Mark (Barbara), Tom (Louise), John, Ann Mahony (Stephen), Peter (Chris), Joseph, Paul (Debi), Jim (Cheri) and Marcella. Pat was devoted to all her children, expecting their best, loving, supporting and trusting them.  She delighted in their successes in life, as well as in their families. Pat had 21 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her for her zest for life, her unfailing love and devotion, her wonderful smile and constant willingness to be a good sport and join in their crazy schemes (at least most of the time).

After her daughter Marcella showed signs of intellectual and developmental disabilities, Pat added another dimension to her love for her family by becoming extremely effective in helping to develop programs for individuals with these types of disabilities, both in New Mexico and nationally.  She was a founding member of ARCA and both Arc and ARCA were significant parts of Pat’s life. The only services available in the late 1960’s, when Pat began her passionate advocacy, were those provided by state institutions, a few special education teachers and small charitable organizations. In the 1970s, Arc staff recall the infamous Pat Stromberg as smiling broadly, sharing her experiences of raising nine children, juggling getting everyone out the door in the morning during each legislative session, racing to Santa Fe to testify and speak passionately with legislators from across our state to advocate for critical funding and then dashing back home in order to serve the entire family dinner on time!  Pat was thrilled to be part of the grass-roots Arc movement that was blossoming at the time and worked tirelessly to get help for the developmentally disabled.  She was the president of the Arc of NM and served as Vice President of The Arc of the United States.  As Arc grew, Pat became more focused on local programs in Albuquerque.  She was the President of ARCA and served on the board for many terms.

Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church December 28, 2019 at 9:30 am. Visitation will be held at the Holy Ghost Church on Friday, Dec 27 at 5:00 pm with a Rosary to follow at 5:30pm.

Memorial donations in Pat’s memory may be made to ARCA, 11300 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87112. (https://www.arcaopeningdoors.org/product/donate-to-arca/)