Patricia Veintimilla Obituary

Patricia A. Briel Veintimilla, SFO, 73, of Hamilton Square, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, June 21, 2025 surrounded by love.

Born in Trenton and raised in Hamilton, Patricia spent her life in service to her family, her community, and her faith. Over the years, she lived in various towns across Central New Jersey, including Bordentown, Lawrenceville, Princeton, Mercerville, and most recently, Hamilton Square. A proud graduate of Hamilton High School West, Patricia went on to work for more than a decade at AT&T, where she held several positions, ranging from telephone operator and payroll clerk to dispatcher. She also brought her strong work ethic and warm personality to roles at Hamilton Hospital as a switchboard operator and at Eastern Dental in Ewing as a dental receptionist. On Election Days, she could reliably be found serving as a poll worker with the NJ Department of State, Division of Elections.

While raising her children, Patricia spent many years as a devoted stay-at-home mom before embarking on a second career focused on caregiving, a role that suited her nurturing spirit. After becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), she cared for residents at Greenwood House with great compassion. She found profound joy as a daycare teacher at Our Lady of Sorrows (OLS) preschool and at several other local childcare centers, where her gentle nature and patience left lasting impressions on countless young lives who lovingly referred to her as "Miss Pat". Patricia had a special bond with animals, especially her dear companion, Sadie, a small dog she adored.

A woman of unwavering faith, Patricia was a longtime parishioner at St. Raphael Church and served as an usher at OLS. In 2004, she deepened her spiritual commitment by completing a Certificate of Profession in the Secular Franciscan Order, joining the Spirit of St. Francis Fraternity within the St. Katherine Drexel Region, a source of great personal fulfillment.

Patricia enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. She loved music and reading and could often be found browsing local yard sales and flea markets. She was also an active member of the Hamilton Senior Center, where she found community and companionship.

Predeceased by her parents, John H. Briel and Cecelia K. Gallagher Briel; her sister, Ellen Quinn, brother, Jackie Briel; brother-in-law, Samuel Fenton; nephew, Shannon Fenton; and her beloved chihuahua, Sammy. Patricia is survived by her loving daughter, Amy M. Franco; her devoted son, James E. Veintimilla Jr.; her sisters, Jacqueline Briel-Fenton, Cecelia Gilligan Leto and her husband, Robert, and Jean M. Briel; her nieces and nephews, Jackie Briel Johnson, Vicki Plumeri, Celia Takach, Chris Lewis, Shaun Fenton, Michael Gilligan, and Ryan Gilligan; her great-nieces and nephews: Kyle, Chris, Madyson, Robert, Riley, Kenneth and Tyler; as well as many other relatives and dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Friday morning, June 27, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Buklad-Merlino Memorial Home, 2141 South Broad Street, Hamilton.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish,3500 South Broad Street, Hamilton.

Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, 1800 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton.