Patricia A. "Patti" McCabe

Patricia “Patti” Ann McCabe (née Little), of Blackwood, NJ, dear wife, mother,
grandmother, big sister, and aunt, passed away on March 14, 2024 after recovering
from a short illness. She was 76 years old.
Patti was born on June 3, 1947 to Daniel Curtis “Curt” Little and Helen Little (née
Fountan) in Philadelphia, PA. She was the oldest of four: Michael Little, who
predeceased her, Teresa “Terry” McFadden, and Christine “Chrissy” Bielecki. The
family moved to Maple Shade, NJ in 1950. She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Elementary and Merchantville High School, where she was a varsity cheerleader and
dated a tall basketball forward, Bill McCabe.
After graduating from high school, Patti found work at Penn Mutual Insurance Company
in downtown Philadelphia, first working in the mailroom, working her way up to the
secretarial pool and finally as an executive secretary. At the height of her powers, Patti
could type 90 words per minute, and excelled at shorthand and dictation.
In 1967, she married Michael Nester, and together they raised two children: Daniel
Murlin Nester and Meredith Ann Nester. After a short time in Virginia, the family moved
to Maple Shade, NJ. Patti gardened, played women’s softball, and hosted holiday
gatherings with family and friends. She worked as the principal’s executive secretary at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help from 1978-1988. Standing tall at 5 foot 11 ½, she would
often encourage girls who were taller than the boys to stand up straight.
Patti and Michael Nester divorced in 1986. Shortly after, she began work as an
executive secretary at Fishman & Tobin Inc. in Philadelphia. She remarried in 1990 to
Andrew Dudek. They lived in Willingboro, NJ and traveled often. Andrew pre-deceased
Patti in 2000.
In 2003, at an informal gathering of Merchantville High School class of 1965, Patti
reconnected with her senior prom date and former boyfriend, William “Bill” McCabe.
They married in 2007, and would often break out their phones to show their 1965 prom
photo, taken at the Rusty Nail in Pennsauken. They enjoyed a terrific life together in
Laurel Springs and Blackwood, NJ, often going on road trips for senior softball or to visit
family.
Patti was known for many things: Jean Nate After Bath Splash, hot rollers, and prodding
her sister Chrissy to wrap up long grace prayers before Thanksgiving dinner. She loved
the taste of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, the hunkiness of Tom Selleck’s mustache, and

the soulful sounds of Michael McDonald’s voice. She had a random dislike of actor Jeff
Bridges and garlic. She ironed every outfit she ever wore and put on make-up every
day. She called everyone “honey.”
Friends and family remember her as hilarious. She would mug for the camera next to
statues and signs. She would often, at formal gatherings, contract a case of the giggles.
From honors inductions ceremonies, funerals, and poetry readings to student concert
recitals and one yoga class in the 1970s, Patti would often send others into suppressed,
simpering laughter.
Patti loved her family. She never stopped being a cheerleader, supporting her extended
family team. She loved Bill, her former prom date turned life partner, and their dogs,
Homey and Murphy. She loved and missed her parents. She loved her siblings, Mike,
Terri and Chrissy, and her siblings’ spouses: Dale Little (who predeceased her in 2018),
Tom McFadden (predeceased in 2022), Kasmer “Kaz” Bielecki. She loved her nephews
and nieces and their spouses: Caiti Mateo (Steven Atkinson), Colin Challender (Renae
Challender), Tom McFadden (Jenn McFadden), Ryan McFadden (Carolina McFadden),
and Shane McFadden (Javier Herrera), Carrie Dobson (Arret Dobson), and Michael
Little, Jr. (predeceased in 2014). She loved her children, Meri and Danny (Maisie
Weissman), and doted on her five grandchildren: Charles “Charlie” Fitzpatrick, John
Fitzpatrick, Tim Fitzpatrick, Miriam Nester, and Beatrice “Bea” Nester. She loved
spending summer afternoons with family on the beaches along the Jersey Shore, from
Ocean City and Avalon to Cape May and Strathmere.
She will be missed by many people from throughout her life: extended family, friends,
neighbors, and colleagues.
Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Tuesday evening, March 19th from 7 to
9 pm at the Gaskill-Brown Funeral Home, 33 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville. Mass
of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 am, Wednesday, March 20th at St. Peter RC
Church, 43 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville. Interment will follow in Lakeview
Memorial Park, Cinnaminson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made
to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Make-A-Wish Foundation, two organizations
Patti felt strongly about.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia A. "Patti" McCabe, please visit our floral store.