Patricia M. (Malaquias) Shaw of Provincetown died on Sept. 30, 2022. At the time of her death, she was a resident at Seashore Point. She was 82.
Patricia was born in Provincetown on May 1, 1940 to Domingo and Louise Malaquias. She graduated from Provincetown High School in 1958. In her yearbook, Pat’s classmates selected her as the “noisiest” and the “most humorous” graduating senior; Pat wrote that she thought that she was destined to be a social worker.
Instead, soon after graduation she married Ronald Motta, and the couple had two sons, Michael and Christopher. She and Ronald later divorced.
When she was in her 30s, Pat suffered a brain tumor and aneurysm that left her paralyzed on her left side and unable to walk or talk. With the help of her talented physical therapist, Marcia Enos, and by virtue of sheer determination, Pat was able to live independently.
In 1990 Pat married the love of her life, Fred Shaw, with whom she had already shared 10 years. They had nine more years of marriage before Fred died of cancer.
In 2011, Pat once again suffered an aneurysm and could no longer live independently. She remained a lifelong member of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown.
Through all her adversity, Pat’s sense of humor never failed her. “All she wanted to do was to make people smile and laugh,” said Lisa Colley, her stepdaughter.
She is survived by her sister, Clarice Dutra of North Truro; her son, Christopher Motta, and wife Nancy of Springfield; her stepchildren, Lynda Shaw of Binghamton, N.Y., William Shaw of North Conway, N.H., Lisa Colley of Truro, and Ami Shaw of Brewster; her grandchildren, William Shaw Jr., Cody Shaw, Matthew Shaw, Jonathan Shaw, CJ Motta, Joey Motta, Leah Colley, Emily Colley, Hannah Colley, and Caleb Shaw; two great-granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews, whom she adored.
Patricia was predeceased by her husband, Fred; her siblings, Kathleen Silva, Louise DeSilva, Domingo Malaquias, and Paul Malaquias; her brother-in-law, Bobby Dutra; and her son, Michael Motta.
Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 11 Prince St., Provincetown. Before the service, a viewing will be held at 9 a.m. in the church vestibule.
To share a memory or leave a condolence, visit doanebealamesdennis.com.
