Patricia A. (Pat) Witte of Oak Bluffs died unexpectedly of natural causes Jan. 4. She was 78.

She was from the Midwest, growing up in the Chicago area and then later moving to St. Louis, Mo. A series of life events took her to Boston in the late 1980s. She fell in love with the Island on her first visit and became an Oak Bluffs resident in 1991. She worked with the Wampanoag Tribe and became a familiar face in the office at Grace Episcopal Church. She dearly loved her community and her Island family.

She is survived by her sister Karen McCullough; daughter Margaret Heffner and her husband Terry; son Michael Griffin and his wife Megan; and grandchildren Deanna and Tricia Heffner and Brandon and Blake Griffin. She was predeceased by her husband the Rev. Walter W. Witte, and granddaughter Britnee Knox.

A celebration of life will be scheduled for later this year.

Donations can be made to the Red Stocking Fund at theredstockingfund.org.

Condolences can be sent to Margaret Heffner, 1020 Acorn Trail Drive, Florissant, MO 63031 or margaretheffner@gmail.com.