Patricia Joann Pauline Alatchanian, daughter of the late Frank Cusenza and Marie Rozanow, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 7, 1940. She passed peacefully in her sleep at her home with family by her side on Saturday, August 31, 2024. 

Patricia, known to most as Pat, was a little sister to Jerry and proud big sister to brother Allen, both of whom preceded her in death. As a young girl, she loved to dance and took ballet lessons throughout childhood. With a composer for a father, she also enjoyed playing the piano and continued to do so well into her late years. Her mother, a talented seamstress, taught to sew, as well as make the world’s best blintzes! Pat graduated from Pershing High School in 1958 and attended junior college for nursing. In her early 20s, Pat met the love of her life, Harry Alatchanian. After a six-month courtship, the two were wed in 1963 at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI. 

Patricia became a mother to Lisa in 1964 and Gary in 1966. She loved being a mother and took pride in providing her family with a joyful upbringing. She often said it was most important to her that her children were kind and happy, and she was immeasurably proud of the people they became. Through these years, she supported Harry as he grew the successful ABC Warehouse appliance business, working for many years in the store and providing a tempering presence to Harry’s sometimes tempestuous one.  Throughout her life, Pat was a dedicated daughter, mother, aunt, and grandmother. So many people considered her to be an additional parent - she always embraced the children of her friends and the friends of her children. Pat never met a challenge she couldn’t overcome, caring for both of her parents and her husband’s parents till their deaths, while also treasuring every moment she could with her grandchildren. She was a patient and enduring presence for her family, embodying a stoicism that was tough to crack! She was fiercely loyal, an excellent secret keeper, and patient with the important things in life, even if she could be short-tempered when Harry was yelling “Pat!” from the other room. 

Pat contained multitudes; she was in possession of a timeless elegance and sense of class and a deep well of wisdom. She understood, simply, that life is about acceptance. Pat endured many hardships and losses in her life, yet embodied selfless service and grace in how she met these moments. At age 26, with two young children, she survived thyroid cancer and fortunately lived a very healthy life into her 80s. Pat was feisty, yet warm, poised yet punchy. She appreciated beauty in a way that most of us don’t, in part because she could appreciate a process like a garden growing in her backyard, understanding that time is a valuable ingredient to enjoyment. Every morning, she took her time getting ready, drinking her infamous Taster’s Choice instant coffee, completing her puzzles and crosswords in the paper, and probably, having a nice smoke! She was a collector; she loved all things frogs, Pez, and for a time, Beanie Babies. She was a true friend whose confidence you could trust and who was - in a word - FUN! She had many adventures with dear friends traveling the world and enjoyed every minute of it.  And wow, what a grandmother - lovingly called “Nana,” that she was. Her grandchildren were incredibly spoiled and forever grateful for it. Pat took her grandkids to innumerable shows, trips to Marvelous Marvin’s, Meijer gift runs, and the movies. Pat filled their childhoods with trips to her and Harry’s Florida condo, cruises, and importantly, lavished both her children and grandchildren with attention, love, and support. 

Over the years, Pat and Harry’s home was the center of gravity for many major gatherings and memory-making moments. Pat was known for her “special” spaghetti sauce AKA Ragu, her attachment to Pepsi, her wonderful parties, and her excellent sense of style and decor. She believed that the devil is in the details - down to double envelopes for wedding invitations! She lovingly cared for her homes on both White Pine and Morris Lake Circle respectively; places that live on in the memory of her community of family and friends. She will be deeply missed, yet her family takes comfort in knowing she is finally together again with her beloved ones above.

Patricia is survived by her son, Gary Alatchanian and his wife Jieyu and her children Kimmily and Forest; her three grandchildren Nicholas and Bethanie Mangigian; Grace Simon and her husband Matthew; she is predeceased by her husband Harry Alatchanian, and her daughter, Lisa Marie Bartley. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations are to CASP: https://www.farusa.org/casp and the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation: https://cholangiocarcinoma.org/.