Patricia Ann Ryder died peacefully on Aug. 14, 2024.

She resided at Country Meadows, Bethlehem.

The only child of Raphael C. and Helen (nee Hart) Peters, she was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on Nov. 7, 1935.

During her childhood, “Patsy,” as she was known, enjoyed vacationing with her aunts, Thea and Adelaide, in The Hamptons.

She was a 1957 graduate of the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

Through the Catholic Alumni Club, she met her husband of 50 years, Thomas G. Ryder.

They married in October 1963.

As the family grew, she managed the busy schedules of five children.

Her early career began in advertising with J. Walter Thompson, in New York.

After time of full-time child rearing, when the kids were off to school, that afforded the opportunity for her to return to her writing career.

She began freelance reporting for the Emmaus Free Press.

When East Penn Publishing was ready to expand, she had the opportunity to start the Parkland Press.

Three years later, she became editor of the Whitehall-Coplay Press.

She served as president of the Pennsylvania Affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) remaining involved well into her 70s.

Passionate about library science, as a librarian, she was also an avid reader and was especially fond of female writers.

She thoroughly enjoyed helping people understand the nuances of English, even instructing English as a Second Language.

For more than 30 years, she was an active member of the St. Thomas More Allentown parish.

She retired from the newspaper in time to accompany her husband on a consulting assignment in Tokyo, Japan.

While enjoying the local culture and cuisine, their time abroad afforded her the opportunity to take many photos which later became the subject of her artistic talents.

She joined the Parkland Art League exploring her skills in oil and watercolor painting.

She was proud to exhibit her work even earning awards.

She and her husband enjoyed traveling the world so much that they formed a travel agency.

They traveled every continent.

Domestically, their travel included both Hawaii and Alaska, as well as road trips across the lower 48.

She would say her favorite city in the world was San Diego.

Her survivors include children Tom (Kate), Christine (Titus) Brookins, Jim (Tammy), Bob and Kathleen (Nick) Caserio; grandchildren Kellen, Timothy, Briana, Gabrielle, Marissa (Mark Koci, first great-grandchild on the way), Madison, Sean, Mikaela, Emma, Jane, Whitley, Chatham and Charleston, as well as a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name be made to the NFPW Education Fund, 140B, Purcellville Gateway Drive, Suite 120, Purcellville, VA 20132 or to the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, c/o Office of Annual Giving, University of Dayton, 300 College Park Dayton, Ohio 45469-7056.

Arrangements were made by Norcross-Weber Funeral Home, Coopersburg.