Patricia Hackett (St. John)

Patricia Hackett (St. John), age 82, of Weymouth and Sandwich, MA died at home surrounded by her loving family after a long illness she battled with dignity and courage.
Pat was the beloved daughter of the late Joseph J. and Evelyn C. (Mahoney) St. John. She graduated from Weymouth High School (Class of ’51), which is where she first met her future husband, Jack Hackett. Pat and Jack fell in love while attending Bridgewater State Teachers College. Shortly after graduating, they were married and shared over 60 years of love and commitment to each other.
Pat was a lifelong teacher, over the years teaching in the Weymouth Public Schools and at St. Edward Elementary School in Brockton. She stepped out of the classroom for several years to devote her boundless love and energy first to her three children, Julie, John and Jane and later to her cherished grandchildren, Colin John and Katelyn St. John McPherson who lovingly called her the “Queen of Sweets”.
Pat and Jack moved from Weymouth to Sandwich in 2000. In addition to maintaining close ties with their Weymouth friends, they joined the Newcomers of Sandwich and developed wonderful friendships with many of the people they met.
Always an avid reader, Pat belonged to several book clubs. She enjoyed playing Mahjong, bridge and other card games, and learned to make Nantucket baskets. Pat was very active in church life at St. Francis Xavier of South Weymouth where she taught CCD and at Corpus Christi of Sandwich where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and bereavement counselor.
Pat is survived by her loving husband, John (Jack) P. Hackett, her daughter, Julie A. Hackett of Weymouth, MA, her son John P. Hackett, Jr. of Wichita, KS, her daughter Jane E. Hackett and her husband Colin M. McPherson of Weymouth and her beloved grandchildren Colin John and Katelyn St. John McPherson of Weymouth.
The family expresses its heartfelt thanks to the friends and caregivers who have provided support to Pat and to them. Pat loved people and people loved her. She will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing her.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours for Pat on Thursday March 17, 2016 from 3-7 PM at the C. C. Shepherd Funeral Home located at 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) Weymouth, MA. Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 8:45 AM on Friday March 18 for a celebration of life prior to the Funeral Mass in honor of Pat which will be held at 10AM in the Sacred Heart Church in Weymouth Landing. Burial will immediately follow at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Weymouth. Donations in memory of Pat may be made to the Friends of The Weymouth Public Libraries “in honor of Patricia St John Hackett” c/o Tufts Library 46 Broad St, Weymouth, MA 02188 or St Vincent DePaul, Corpus Christi Church 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537. If you would like to leave a message for the family please click on the candle.