Patricia Jane Cunningham-Nolin

June 26, 1960 -

Nov 28, 2019

Patricia Jane Cunningham-Nolin, 59, died at MatSu Regional on Nov. 28, 2019, after a brief illness, with her husband Tony, and brothers-in-law John and Patrick Nolin by her side.

Born in Los Angeles, Calif., she was the proud daughter of Jack and Eleanor Cunningham and was raised in L.A. until the age of 13, when the family moved to Goleta, Calif. Patti attended Dos Pueblo High School where she excelled in all her classes and was a cheerleader. In her youth she traveled around the world with her parents, seeing Spain, Portugal, Amsterdam and many other European locations. After graduation in 1978, Patti went on to UCSB where she earned her master's degree. She was a Mensa member.

In her off time during college Patti and friends spent time surfing, swimming, playing beach volleyball and water skiing. She was also a Black Diamond downhill skier, enjoyed barrel racing, riding her horses in shows and hanging out at the Maverick Saloon with her friends.

Patti came to Alaska in the summer of 1998 for a mutual friend's wedding, where she met Tony Nolin, and that's where her Alaskan story began. They fell in love and after a few months of a long-distance relationship, Patti moved to Alaska and began 21 years of adventure, love and marriage with Tony.

Patti enjoyed her new life in Alaska where she met many new friends, but she and Tony traveled frequently to Southern California and Florida to visit their families.

In December 1999, Patti and Tony spent Christmas in Goleta with her parents, then on to L.A. to attend the Y2K Millennium concert at the Staples Center. In November 2000 at the Gold Bar in Palmer, they were married in an unofficial ceremony by Babe Sager and Butch Fondon.

Although Patti was always dressed to a tee, later in life she still enjoyed spending time with family and friends in Talkeetna, Alaska. In August 2019, Patti and Tony were married in Talkeetna by their good friends John and Kelly Fink.

Patti is survived her husband, Tony of Palmer; John and Diane Nolin of Palmer; Patrick and Erma Nolin of Fairbanks; Patricia Edgerton of Minnesota.; Roger and Angie Johnson of Fairbault, Minn.; Judy Iverson of International Falls, Minn.; Vincent Nolin and Pam of Minn.; Anna Marie Hausdorf of Florida; her sons, Brandon and Nick Ventura of Honolulu; her brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Rhonda Cunningham; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

There will be a Celebration of Life at American Legion Post 15 in Palmer on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020m at 2 p.m. Sometime in April there will be another Celebration of Life in Goleta, for her many friends and family there, and her ashes will be spread on Goleta beach along with her parents' ashes.