Our world lost a beautiful soul and it will never be the same. Patricia (Tricia or Trish) Ann Baldes was born on Aug. 17, 1976, to Bill and Diane Baldes. She passed away on Feb. 9, 2025, after a brief illness, surrounded by her family and friends.
Visitation is Friday, Feb. 14, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home, 100 Franklin Ave., Pearl River, N.Y.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 120 Kings Highway, Tappan, N.Y.
From a young age, Trish showed spunk and tenacity. After living in San Diego California, following the passing of her mom, Trish came home and attended Lehman College, where she studied to be a teacher.
She worked for a short time in the Bronx at M.S. 80 and began her career as an English teacher in the Somers School District in 2004. This was where she found her purpose and joy, impacting the lives of countless students in her 20 years there. Our hearts have been deeply touched from reading the writings from some of Trish’s students. She clearly made a difference with those who worked with her and who were taught by her
Tricia was education co-chair of the United Nations Association, Westchester Chapter and a champion of human rights education. She capably authored student programs and led professional development for the Creative Visions Foundation, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the Museum of Tolerance and the Open Roads Foundation’s Changemaker program. Additionally, Tricia co-authored the Kindred Spirits blog on Share My Lesson.
Trish loved music. It fed her soul and she could always find a song for any occasion. Going to concerts brought her the most joy. She also found great pleasure while reading, listening to podcasts, feeling the sunshine, watching blue skies, and having blue pedicures.
Trish met her love, Mark Withers, in 1996 and they married in 2017. Mark and Trish enjoyed life together to the fullest, vacationing and spending time out in the North Fork of Long Island often playing their song -- “Into the Mystic.”
Trish was predeceased by her mom Diane, who is waiting for her in heaven. She is survived by her father and stepmom, Bill and Rose Baldes; her sister and brother-in-law, Jacqui and Rick Budakowski; her niece and nephew Dyana and Louis, the loves of her life and their puppies Ozzie and Lola, who loved Tricia and snuggled with her whenever she came to visit; her in-laws in Ireland; many aunts, uncles and cousins as well as countless friends and colleagues.
To know Tricia was to love her.
The family would like to thank the staff at Westchester Medical Center for the expert and empathetic care that they provided to Tricia and our family.
Human rights was a top priority to Tricia. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a cause or charity that supports the rights of people locally and around the world.
Our hearts are broken. “Sister, you keep me” – DMB
