The Embodied Dharma of Patricia Hunt-Perry
a special Sunday Celebration Service for March 10
Patricia Hunt-Perry was a beloved member of Unity of Albany from 2008 through her passing in February 2023. She moved to the Albany area to be closer to family after her retirement as a professor at Ramapo college in New Jersey. Concerned about finding a spiritual community here, she turned to her long-time friend, “Ramananda” John Welshons, who recommended she look into Unity. She found us, and we found her! Patricia’s warmth, generous presence, enlightened wisdom and good-hearted humor touched everyone she met and made an indelible impact on our Unity community, calling us to an ever deepening spiritual walk and a commitment to actively living it in this world.
We will begin the celebration of her exemplary life with our 10:00 am service with guest speaker “Ramananda” John Welshons. The celebration will continue with a luncheon and with multi-media presentations of Patricia’s many-faceted life throughout the facility, and will include a talk in the Sanctuary by her son Jeff Neal.
A very dear friend of Patricia’s, RAMANANDA JOHN E. WELSHONS is a highly-respected contemporary spiritual teacher whose teachings weave together insights from the world’s great contemplative traditions. He teaches, lectures and leads meditation workshops throughout North America and has been a popular guest teacher at the Unity Church in Albany for many years. He has been a practitioner of Vipassana Meditation, and various forms of Yoga for more than 50 years, and has travelled and studied extensively in India – where he spent time in the ashrams of Meher Baba and Neem Karoli Baba. He has worked extensively with Ram Dass (Be Here Now) and Stephen Levine (Who Dies?). He also trained with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (On Death and Dying). Ramananda’s books include One Soul, One Love, One Heart; Awakening From Grief; and When Prayers Aren’t Answered. His website is www.onesoulonelove.com
Patricia’s Obituary, Times Union, March 2023
GUILDERLAND – An extraordinary life well lived, Patricia Hunt Perry rejoined the source, leaving her body peacefully at home on February 27, 2023. Her life was truly her message.
Born on January 1, 1938, Patricia graduated from Newburgh Free Academy, Ohio Wesleyan University, and received her doctorate from Syracuse University. Professor Hunt-Perry taught American and international studies at Ramapo College in New Jersey from 1972-2008 when she retired to move closer to her grandchildren in the Capital Region.
Long active in social change movements, her influence and rigorous intellect spanned generations: Civil Rights, Immigrant Labor, Environmental Justice, and Women’s Rights. Her work seeking peaceful nonviolence brought her to Baba Ram Dass, Buddhism, and Thich Nhat Hahn.
Her family seemed to expand with everyone she met, Thanksgiving dinners were a melting pot of nationalities and cultures, all welcome at the farmhouse. Patricia knit together so many threads of life, always interested in who you were, not who you knew.
She traveled extensively as a visiting professor in India, in Eastern Europe with peace activists, in Ireland and England, and throughout the U.S. and Canada. Radio work at WBAI in New York City, television work in Toronto, the Master Lecture Series at Ramapo, and countless contacts at talks, lectures, and conferences formed lasting friendships.
Patricia is survived by her sons, James and Jeffrey; dear grandchildren, Tim, Jonathan and Spencer; and countless friends that have been family for so many years. That list was too expansive to publish here, but truly were the fabric of her life. Know that she loved and cherished you all.
The family would like to especially thank her caregivers, Suenita, Hamwantie, Naroopa, and Priya who guided her through this final stage of her journey; Dr. Zimring and The Community Hospice for exceptional care; and all of the friends who made the home-stay possible.
A celebration of life will be scheduled, but in the time and space needed. Please feel free to contact us at phpjoyjourney@gmail.com. Tim and Jeff will respond there.
We ask that you send no flowers, but instead, plant a tree, cultivate a garden and make space for the birds, butterflies and moths.
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