Patricia Cheney

Patricia Cheney, aged 81, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Rochester, NY on February 15, 2024. Patricia Ann Smith was born on March 15, 1942 in Canonsburg, PA to the late William Smith and Fannie Smith, née White.  Patricia spent part of her younger years being cared for by her maternal grandparents the late Willie and Nettie White of Washington, PA after the death of her mother Fannie when Patricia was still quite young. Additionally, she was also cared for by other members of her father’s extended family, many of whom lived in and around the greater Washington, PA area.

In 1955 Patricia moved to Rochester, NY where she attended East High School. In 1963 Patricia married Victor Cheney of Rochester, NY (separated and later divorced). They had three daughters: Andrea, Erinne and Nona Cheney who are her immediate surviving family.

Patricia had many interests. She was an avid reader and enjoyed the outdoors. As a teenager in her new home, she was confirmed in the old St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal Church. Later in life she attended services at the church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal Church (“Two Saints”). Due to her love of the arts, she appeared in a local production of “A Raisin in the Sun” in 1965. Patricia had a large group of friends from all walks of life in and around the Rochester, NY area. She loved her large extended family and often traveled to visit them and hosted holiday gatherings, most notably her New Year’s Eve crab feasts.

Inspired by the political and social changes of the 1960s and the early 1970s, Patricia became involved in African Liberation Day as a local coordinator. She was also an early supporter of diverse learning and worked with a group to organize and found a school called Kazi Institute. Her interests in healthy, affordable food alternatives culminated in her involvement in the founding of Jefferson Center Alternatives, or JCA, in 1977 along with her dear friend the late Dr. Ellen Swartz. JCA was a non-profit organization originally located on Jefferson Avenue in Rochester, NY that provided affordable healthy food options for underserved communities. Patricia and Dr. Swartz also conducted or led many outreach programs to educate inner city residents on obtaining healthy food choices and cost saving to be found buying in bulk.

In 2004 Patricia Cheney retired from employment as a Monroe County Department of Social Services Caseworker. She spent her remaining years visiting family and doting on her dear granddaughters who are among her surviving family members: Seneca and Mia Cheney and Isabella Archilla.

Patricia is survived by her aunt Marilyn Smith of Rochester, NY and by her much loved sister Jeanetta Chandler, née Smith. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews and by many cousins, who were her companions and playmates in childhood. In addition to Patricia Cheney’s late parents, she is also preceded in death by her beloved only brother William Smith, her dearly departed paternal grandparents Charles and Mary Lynn Smith and her dear cousin-sibling Charlotte Martin, née White.

Patrica Cheney’s remains will be interred with her mother Fannie in the Washington Cemetery located in Washington, PA.