WAREHAM - Patricia M. Cullen, 85, passed away on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 at her home in Wareham. She was the daughter of the late Harold S. and Catherine (Cairns) Wood of Westport.

Pat graduated from Westport High School in 1955, where her father was principal. They were both charter members of the Westport Agricultural Fair which was established in 1955. In the 1990s, they were both inducted into the Westport Athletic Hall of Fame.

Pat received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Bridgewater State Teachers College. She taught school in Northboro, Fairhaven and Wareham. After 33 years of teaching, she retired in 2001.

After her retirement, she traveled to Ireland, England and Alaska, and followed the Boston Red Sox to several ballparks in the United States and Canada.

In 2008, after severe back problems, Pat became paralyzed from the chest down due to a back operation.

April 2009 was one of the special highlights for Pat when the Wareham Middle School gymnasium was dedicated in her honor. She was extremely grateful for this wonderful dedication.

A lifelong devoted fan of the Boston Celtics, especially Larry Bird, she was honored during one of the games with the Heroes Among Us award during one of the games.

Pat was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Before her operation, she served for several years on the altar guild and was publicity chairman for the church. Later, unable to serve on the altar guild, she hosted the monthly prayer group in her home. 

In 1972, Pat was a charter member of the Friends of the Wareham Free Library. She served as President of the Friends and was also a member of the Library Board of Trustees for several terms.

She was a life member of the Friends of the Library, a member of the Episcopal Guild of the Church of the Good Shepherd, a member of the Retired Educators Assoc. of Massachusetts and a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Lambda chapter.

Pat is survived by her daughter, Cathleen Elicier of Wareham; a son, Timothy Cullen of Leeds; a sister, Dr. Carolyn Wood of Rumford, RI; a brother, Richard Wood and his wife Carol of Riverside, RI; her grandsons, Jordan Elicier and his wife Karissa, and Ryan Elicier of Wareham; her great granddaughter, Kalani Elicier; her niece, Tori Currier of Scituate, RI; nephews Jonathan Wood and his wife Sarah and Jeffrey Wood of East Providence; grandniece Louisa Patricia and grandnephews Harold, Aidan and Liam. 

Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Friday, Nov. 4 at Chapman Funerals and Cremations , 2599 Cranberry Hway. (Rt. 28) Wareham from 4-7 p.m. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 74 High St., Wareham at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Center of Boston Children’s Hospital online, or by checks mailed to the Pulmonary Division at Boston Children’s Hospital, 333 Longwood Ave. Mail Stop 3121 Boston, MA 02115.

For directions or to leave a message of condolence, visit www.chapmanfuneral.com.