Patricia Anne (née Curran) Scherer

Patricia Anne (Curran) Scherer

March 8, 1941 - April 15, 2025

Patricia Anne Scherer, 84, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025, after a courageous struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

Patricia, affectionately known as Patty to her family, was born on March 8, 1941 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to M. Josephine “Josie” Curran Moe, of Norwegian heritage, and Francis “Frank” Curran. As the eldest of five children, she grew up alongside her siblings Thomas, Cathleen, William, and Jane.

In her youth, Patricia discovered a passion for the performing arts. She became a talented tap dancer, delighting audiences at the local Minneapolis Uptown Theater as half of the popular duo known as "The Two Pats." She also had fond memories of competing on the girl's basketball team.  

Patricia attended St. Albert the Great Elementary School. After graduating from Our Lady of Peace High School in St. Paul, she pursued her education at the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She began her professional career at the VA Hospital. In 1965, she and her friends, Mary Lou and Mary Pat, embarked on a new adventure together moving to San Francisco, California. It was there that she continued her nursing career and met the love of her life, Oscar Ronald Scherer, MD at Fort Miley VA Hospital. The couple married on July 22, 1967 and soon established their family home in Berkeley, California.

Together, Patricia and Oscar raised three children: Michele, Anne Marie, and Matthew. Family was at the heart of Patricia's life and she cultivated a home environment that valued education, adventure, and connection. The family bonded through ski trips to Northstar in Lake Tahoe, where Patricia became a skilled downhill skier relishing in many a bluebird day on the Sunshine Run with the ladies’ ski group. She also developed into an accomplished runner, completing the New York City (twice) and San Francisco Marathons. 

Patricia had a gift for creating memorable family experiences. She organized adventures such as a rafting expedition through the Grand Canyon and fishing and horseback riding in the Grand Tetons. Family trips to visit with relatives near and far were always a priority, with many joyous reunions.

In 1999, Patricia discovered another dimension of her creativity when she began taking art classes at her local community college. She quickly revealed an extraordinary talent for painting, particularly oil on canvas. Her artistic abilities flourished, culminating in beautiful still lifes, landscapes, and original portraits of each of her six beloved grandchildren, who brought her immense joy and pride.

A devoted animal lover, Patricia shared special bonds with her dogs Reggie, Peaches, and Lia. She and Lia were familiar figures on Berkeley's challenging "Goat Trail," which they hiked regularly. She found simple joy in a day hiking in the Berkeley hills with her dog, gardening in her lovely yard, and hosting dinner at the kitchen table with her family. Patricia’s extraordinary kindness, gentle heart, and positive outlook left an indelible impression on everyone fortunate enough to cross her path.

After their children were grown, Patricia and Oscar embarked on numerous adventures together, traveling extensively around the world. They hiked around Mont Blanc, enjoyed 22 cruises, and toured through Europe, China, Australia, Japan and Indonesia. In 2009, they relocated to Lake Oswego, Oregon, beginning a new chapter in their lives together.

Patricia’s legacy lives on through her husband, Oscar; her children, Michele and her husband Berkeley, Anne Marie and her husband Mark, and Matthew and his wife Elisabeth; her grandchildren Bridget, Bella, Charlotte, Madeline, Daniel and Lilah; her siblings, Thomas, Cathleen, William, and Jane; and the many other family members and friends she touched with her warmth, creativity, and zest for life.

Patricia will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, (alz.org) in memory of Patricia Scherer.