Patricia Winnek

Patricia Winnek, 93 of Saratoga Springs, died peacefully on June 14, 2026.

She was able to say goodbye to members of her family in her final days.

Born on December 13, 1932 to Charles Andersen and his wife Stella she was the only child and was raised on a farm in Seneca Castle N.Y. where she worked and went to school. Pat loved animals of all kinds, as she used to tell us that growing up on the farm, they were her friends and took the place of her having no brothers or sisters. She told her family many stories of the long days and hard work on the family farm. She was a tough woman and had a long-storied work ethic which led her to hold many jobs during her adult life. She worked at Geneva General hospital as a nurse’s aide, and was a long-time billing typist for a Dr. Arthur Hamilton, a well-known anesthesiologist, and she worked for many years as a realty agent with Century 21.

She was pre-deceased by her husband James Charles Winnek whom she met in 1955 and they dated for quite a few years until their marriage on September 13, 1965. Patricia is survived by her three children John Winnek (Barbara Crane), James Winnek (Jan Myer), and daughter Kassandra Gason-Potter.  She also is survived by 8 grandchildren. Krystal Brand (Gascon), Jordan, Jayson, and Jackson Gascon, Michael and Christopher Winnek, and Nolan and Rhyan (Moo) Winnek. She is also survived by her 3 great granddaughters, Sophia, Bailey, and Harper (Gascon-Brand) and one great grandson Easton Gascon.

Patricia was a true matriarch of her family. She led by example as well as discipline. Her voice would carry through the neighborhood when it was time to come home. She and her husband Jim, led a good quality life as they built a home in Geneva and started a family. She was the go-to mom for field trips and ensuring her children had all the support they needed. She taught her children how to be respectful, caring, and how to balance both work and leisure. She drove the entire family everywhere including work, school, ball games, and every single Winnek family vacation.

In the summer of 1985, she sold her family farm and property so that her husband could follow his life long dream of owning and operating a bar and restaurant. They purchased the former Clifton Springs Hotel in Clifton Springs N.Y. and moved the family there and began a second chapter of their lives.

The business was renamed The Relax Inn and it was there at 26 Crane St. they established a popular eating and drinking destination for local residents for over 10 years. Pat and Jim ran this business together through the good times and the bad, all while raising their three children. They sold the property in the mid-90’s and moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where they retired on Carolina Beach. Patricia continued to work part time until she was 85 years old, always keeping busy and she focused on helping to raise her grandchildren Nolan and Rhyan as she moved to Charlotte in 2002 after her husband of 37 years passed away.

In May of 2024 Patricia moved into her son John’s home with his wife Barbara where she enjoyed bird watching on the deck in the warm sun and keeping an eye on the dogs and cats. She was able to enjoy the company of her other grand children Michael and Chris as young adult men now and she was proud of their accomplishments. Always the worrier in the family, Pat always commented on anything that was going on in her family’s life and she only wanted the best and safest outcome. Patricia was a woman of deep faith and prayed for everything great or small. She was a devoted member of the catholic church of St. Francis de Sales in Geneva, N.Y.

In early 2026 Pat moved into Fort Hudson Nursing Home and then transferred to Wesley Healthcare Nursing Home for her final two months under the care of the wonderful and compassionate team of the Community Hospice. Their wonderful care helped to ease her pain in her final days and gave great comfort to her family. Pat will be greatly missed by her family as well as her longtime friends she made in North Carolina, especially Rosemary Powers.

The Winnek family thank the members of her church at St. Mathews in Charlotte, N.C.  Her pastor Adam Weigand of St. Paul’s in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and especially all of the nurses and health care workers from Fort Hudson Health Care and Wesley Health Care 3rd floor.

Patricia is reunited with her husband Jim where they are both at peace now.

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