Patsy Lee Fittipaldi

Patsy Lee Allen Dunlap Fittipaldi Patsy died peacefully on September 4, 2024 at the age of 87. After a courageously fought battle with multiple myeloma. She was surrounded by her family as they said their goodbyes and ‘see you again someday in Heaven’ as they knew she was going to meet Jesus.

 Patsy was born to Alonzo and Leona Allen on February 21, 1937. She graduated in 1954 from Landon High School in Jacksonville Florida. She faithfully attended reunions and remained in contact with many classmates for the past 70 years. Growing up as an adventure seeker, she raised chickens, fished off their dock on St. John River, played in the woods, wasn’t afraid of snakes, and ran as fast as the neighborhood boys. She became a multi-talented southern lady and also a sportswoman who had a passion for fishing and the outdoors. She was even featured on the cover of Florida Baitcasting magazine and was a member of the bait casting team at the University of Florida. She earned her BA in Elementary Education and was a proud lifelong Florida Gator still flying the U of F flag to this day. 

Patsy married James David (aka Jim, JD) Dunlap in 1959 in Atlanta GA, and became a mother to 2 sons- Michael McCall Dunlap and Burton David Dunlap- (both now airline pilots) and moved to St. Paul, MN for Jim’s job with 3M. 

 While spending 30+ years in the ‘cooler’ Midwest she received her realtors license and worked for Coldwell Banker. She also had an entrepreneur bent- starting a side job ‘staging’ for local businesses with friend Liz Flynn. The Minnesota winters didn’t slow her down as she took to snowmobiling and ice fishing. She loved gardening and tended to any kind of animal who needed some TLC and was known as the neighborhood vet. Her neighbors knew she could set a bird’s broken wing or bottle-feed a baby animal who’d lost its mom and lovingly return it to the wild. Ricky, her beloved parakeet, lived 30+ years. Pet schnauzers Pixie 1 and Pixie 2 were also lucky to call Patsy mom. She was very proud too of her silver Mustang- a 1965 convertible. Her primary love language though was definitely hospitality and entertaining. By baking her famous pound cakes and extraordinary cooking, she would turn every meal into an art form- believing good food and beautiful presentation were key! She also loved to make jewelry and had enough beads to adorn thousands! She loved craft shows and will be most remembered for whatever she touched she turned into something beautiful. She also always knew how to put together her daily ensemble of pretty clothes and jewelry accessorized to the nines- stylish and classy! She even took a belly dancing class! Fun loving, 'glass half full' attitude always! Memories of a blonde beauty with a gorgeous smile and a twinkle in her eyes.

 Patsy married Joseph Fittipaldi in 1985 while remaining good friends with JD until his passing and moved to a home in Amery, WI on Lake Wapogosset in 1999. Many great friends and memories of fish fries and pontooning were made there. Retirement years were spent traveling the world- mostly on a cruise ship- as many as 30–40-day cruises and eventually those later years took them back to Florida in 2007. Also, they made sure to hit the road to spend time with extended family- some local and her sons' families in WI and NC. 

She and Joe were faithful members of the Catholic Church wherever they lived- most recently St. John the Baptist in Atlantic Beach. Patsy is survived by her husband Joe of 39 years, sons Mike (Kathy) Burt (Kathy), Seven grandchildren and one great grandson- Alex Dunlap (Mary), Blake Dunlap (Abby-expecting Sadie Grace in October), Anthony Fittipaldi, Amelia Dunlap, Olivia Dunlap (Jake-fiancee), Joel Dunlap (Kara- and their son Paxton), and Rocco Fittipaldi. Joe's four children Robert (Cathy), Mary Fittipaldi, John (Tina) and Michael (Michelle) remained involved in Patsy’s life and were so loved by her as well. Patsy’s cousin Judy Alles is lovingly known as her lifelong twin along with Judy’s daughter Vanessa and granddaughter Justine (Tanner) have many fond memories. Also surviving is sister-in-law Belkus Bowles and her four children. 

 A Funeral Mass with be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2024, in St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, Atlantic Beach.