Patricia Louise Fertig Hudson, 83

Pat, 83, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep at 1:22 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2013, in Post Falls.

Pat was born June 20, 1929, in Ray, Ariz., to Colonel Wendell Welby Fertig and Mary Ann Easmond Fertig (deceased).

She grew up in Arizona, Colorado and the Philippines. She graduated from Golden High School (Colorado) and attended the University of Denver.

She married John Edward Hudson, June 29, 1950, and they started their family of four children: Robert Wendell, Thomas Michael, Mary Lucille and Patricia Jeanne.

After raising her family in Texas, Japan, Michigan, Virginia, Wyoming and Florida, Pat moved back to her “home state” of Colorado, residing in Lakewood working as a Records Clerk for the Lakewood Police Department from 1975-1990.

When her three youngest children moved to North Idaho in the 1980s and ’90s, Pat retired, and moved to North Idaho to be near them. She enjoyed retirement by working at the Post Falls Public Library.

In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her younger sister, Lois Jeanne Fertig Weiss, in 1989; and son-in-law, Alan J. Forbes, in 1990.

Pat is survived by all four of her children: The Rev. Robert (Barbara) Hudson of Maysville, Ky., Thomas Hudson (Becky) of Darby, Mont., Mary Lu (Vince) Kozak of Hayden and Tricia Forbes (Preston Rutherford) of Post Falls. And four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Andrew Hudson of Maysville; Major David Hudson, wife Lt. Cmdr Laura and children, Hannah, Keira, Anabelle, Molly and John (Jack) Hudson, all of Fayetteville, N.C.; Courtney (Broderick) Pellow and daughters, Reagen and Bella of Post Falls; and Ryan Forbes of Post Falls. Also surviving Pat is her former husband, John Hudson, of Hayden.

The family extends a very special thanks to Pat’s caregivers at Life Care of Post Falls.

To all see leaves this, her favorite poem:

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow;

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush,

Of quiet birds in circled flight,

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die.

A service will be conducted at the convenience of the family. Any memorial contributions in Pat’s memory may be made to: Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Hayden, ID 83835 or Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.