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BROOKFIELD -- Patricia Eileen Cratsley Mills, of Brookfield, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, after a hard-fought and courageous battle with multiple system atrophy. She was 76 years old.
Patty was born on Sept. 12, 1949, to William F. Cratsley Sr. and Helen J. Shallop Cratsley.
She grew up a "farm girl" with three older sisters and a younger brother. She attended Brookfield schools and graduated with the class of 1967. After high school graduation, Patty attended the Sharon General Hospital School of Nursing and earned her RN degree in 1970.
Married to Gene "Fuzzy" Mills on Sept. 5, 1970, for 16 years, they had three children. Patty helped manage the family businesses, Mills Plumbing and Mills Construction, for many years. She went back to nursing in 1988 and was quickly promoted to director of nursing at O'Brien Memorial Nursing Home. Following that employment, she dedicated 10 years in the same position at Nugent's Convalescent Home before working the last half of her career as director of nursing for Windsor House of Champion. Patty was a dedicated nurse who always put her patients' and residents' care above all else. She retired in 2018, after 30 years in nursing.
Patty is survived by her children and grandchildren: Melissa Mills Sydlowski and her son, Mitchell; Rebekah Mills Patton and her children, Anthony and Angelina; and Chris Mills, his wife Melissa, and their daughters, Riley, Alex, and Kennedy. Patty is also survived by her older sisters, Janet (Tom) Scott and Donna Ischo, as well as her younger brother, William Cratsley Jr. (Debbie). Her former husband, Gene Mills and his partner, Joyce Klabnik, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.
Patty was preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Cratsley Surgenavic; an infant granddaughter, Mia Eileen Patton; her son-in-law, Mark J. Sydlowski; and her parents.
Always the nurse, Patty has made the selfless decision, with her passing, to donate her body to The Ohio State University College of Medicine to benefit future medical practitioners.
Per Patty's wishes, no public services will take place.
A celebration of Patty's life will take place at a later date for her family and close friends.
In Patty's memory, the family would appreciate donations to the Mark J. Sydlowski Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Donations can be made online at the following URL address: https://tinyurl.com/SydScholarshipFund. Donations by check are also welcome. Please reach out to Patty's daughter Melissa Sydlowski for more information on that process.
The family wishes to thank the hospice nurses, especially Lenore and Jackie, and the aides with Akeso Home Health for their caring end-of-life services.
Family and friends are invited to visit the funeral home's website at www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences.
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