Remembering Patricia Peterson Danielson

“Your own self at your very best all of the time.”

If there was ever a Delta Gamma “call to action” this was it.   It came from one of my dearest friends, my mentor and my beloved 
Delta Gamma sister, Patricia Peterson Danielson….Patty, Theta-Indiana.

I met Patty for the very first time in 1977 when she was a Province Alumnae Chairman and I was the Advisory Board Chairman for Delta Xi-Ball State.  

She came to visit the Muncie alumnae, but as she always did, she wanted to spend time with the collegians.   When she walked into the chapter suite, the collegians were absolutely enamored with this beautiful, classy and kind lady…as was I.   Her message was simple:  “Your own self at your very best all of the time.” It was a message that resonated then and still does today.  It is the heart of Delta Gamma.

There was never a time when Patty was too busy to talk, to help, to counsel, to love and to care. I knew if I could just talk to Patty, the answer to my question would come….not directly, of course, but from her wise questions and sincere listening and her spoken and sometimes unspoken words moving me to the right answer.

Her most important gift to me was her constant reminder to “be my own self, at my very best, all of the time.”   The most important gift I can give back to Patty is to live this every day and to share it with others.

I take comfort in knowing that the “Three Amigos”, Eleanor Slaughter, Barbara Laederach and Patty Danielson are holding chapter in heaven today.

Written by Maureen Syring, Nu-Idaho.  

VIdeo with more about Patty here.