Colleen M. Berry (Leighton) Patterson Obituary (1940 - 2026)

Manchester - Colleen M. Berry (Leighton) Patterson, 85, of Manchester, ME passed away Thursday in the early morning of January 22, 2026, in Lewiston at CMMC following a very brief illness. She was a loving and caring individual to friends, family and everyone she met. Colleen was born in Lewiston as the second child of Leroy “Roy” Berry and Doris (Weston) Berry on May 16, 1940. She grew up on the Berry Farm at Litchfield Corners, attending Litchfield schools and was a member of the last graduating class from Litchfield Academy in 1959. As a child Colleen enjoyed farm life and had a little lamb that followed her everywhere she went. When going to a friend’s house for a sleepover she would routinely get homesick and call her father to come pick her up. During her high school years, she was the center of the girls’ basketball team with a commanding height of five foot, six inches. This led to a lifelong love of the sport, avidly following high school tournaments, college, and professional games. In 1960 she married Richard S. “Dick” Leighton and moved to Waterville. They had one son together, Richard M. After divorcing Dick, she married Freeman “Pat” Patterson in 1989. They remained together until Pat’s sudden death in 2012. Colleen spent her entire adult life in the Augusta area working as a waitress and bartender for numerous restaurants including Howard Johnsons, The Senator Inn, Holiday Inn, and retiring from AHOP. In retirement she decided to stay busy and worked part time at One Hour Martinizing laundry service. Working in the Augusta restaurant scene afforded Colleen the ability to serve and get to know many of the state legislators. She had their favorite drinks memorized and loved talking politics with them and anyone she ran into, being quite outspoken at times on various issues. Colleen enjoyed baking delicious pies and cookies for family and friends. The flaky crust of a strawberry rhubarb pie or the taste of those chocolate chip cookies will be long remembered by all who knew her. For recreation Colleen loved horse and greyhound racing. She didn’t mind the long trip to the dog park in Seabrook, NH before the track closed down. Scarborough Downs, Lewiston Raceway and harness racing at the area fairs were her favorite things to do, betting on the horse with a name she liked. The highlight of her life was traveling in 2002 with her son to watch the Kentucky Derby live. Colleen was predeceased by her parents, husband Pat, and her sister and brother in-law William “Bill” Rodzen and Darlene (Berry) Rodzen. She is survived by her son Richard Leighton of Manchester and nephews Eric and Denise Rodzen of Livermore Falls, Mark and Cathy Rodzen of Wayne, and Todd Rodzen of Washington, NC. She is also survived by several cousins and three grand nephews. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Pat Jillson, Joanne Godfrey, and Foster Estabrook for their decades of deep friendship extended to Colleen. In respect of Colleen’s wishes, no funeral service will be held, and her ashes will be interred with her husband Pat at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta later in the spring. The family would like to thank Terry Hopkins for all of his help and compassion during the last several years of Colleen's life. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed; condolences and memories may be shared at www.gallantfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Kennebec Valley Humane Society (KVHS), 168 Leighton Road, Augusta, ME 04330 or Protector of Animal Lives Sanctuary (PALS) no kill cat shelter, 188 Case Road, Winthrop, ME 04364.