RIP: Patricia Carson (Nason) Mordecai, former Episcopal Church COO

Posted Feb 11, 2019

Patricia Carson (Nason) Mordecai, 80, of Scarborough, Maine, died peacefully at Gosnell Memorial Hospice Home on Feb. 7, 2019, from cancer. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 28 years, Donald D. Mordecai.

Patricia leaves her daughter Barbara Nason and husband Peter Sherman, son Thomas Nason and wife Jennifer Martin, stepsons Daniel Mordecai and David Mordecai, brother and sister-in-law Robert and Penelope Carson, grandchildren Leeland, Marshall, Emma, Alexandra, Gillian, great grandchild Oliver and numerous nieces and nephews.

Patricia (Pat) was born in Orange, New Jersey, and brought up in New Rochelle, New York. She graduated from The College of Wooster in 1960 where she met her first husband, Charles (Chuck) K. Nason. Pat was married to Chuck for 24 years and raised their children in Wayland, Massachusetts. In 1985, Pat married Donald D. (Don) Mordecai.  After residing in Wayland, they moved to various places following their careers in Connecticut, Washington, D.C and New York.

Pat had a life-long and commendable career with The Episcopal Church both nationally and locally, including at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, and St. Albans Church in Washington, D.C.  From 1998 until her retirement in 2006, she served as the chief operating officer of The Episcopal Church at its New York City headquarters.

“The chief operating officer exercises a ministry of care and oversight on behalf of the presiding bishop. I can think of no one more suited to that task than Pat Mordecai.  Her previous diocesan, seminary and parish experience, together with her well-developed ability to balance close attention to the proper working of the systems under her charge with respect and care for those engaged in the work at hand, made her the right person at the right time.  Pat was a wonderful colleague and a dear friend,” said former-Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold.

Following retirement, Pat and Don moved to Castine, Maine, where they were active in town and church affairs and enjoyed gardening, boating, walking, music and reading.  In 2011, Pat and Don moved to Scarborough where Pat was very active at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Falmouth and the Scarborough Garden Club.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 2, 2019, at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth, Maine. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Pat may make a donation to The Island Institute (sustaining the islands and communities of the Gulf of Maine), P.O. Box 648, Rockland, ME 04841.


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