Patricia Anne Marek
Patricia “Patty” Anne Marek passed away peacefully on December 8, 2022, after a long battle with a very rare adrenal cancer. Patty was born in Santa Barbara on August 1, 1946 to the late Ruben and Hope Ponce. She grew up on the Eastside, starting school at Franklin Elementary. When Ruben bought a new house near Modoc and Las Positas, she attended Adams Elementary, La Cumbre Jr. High, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1964. At SBHS, she met her future husband, and many lifelong friendships were created. These high school girlfriends and their husbands remained close friends and supporters throughout Patty’s entire life. When gathered together, laughs and hugs were abundant, parades and parties became memorable events. She truly valued these longtime friends and the love and support they shared over the years.
Patty married her high school sweetheart Jack Rogers, and they were blessed with two sons, Mark and Greg. She and Jack raised their boys with love, plenty of sports, and family vacations where camping, boating, hunting, and lots of fishing made for cherished family memories. Both boys excelled in multiple sports in high school, and Carpinteria proved a wonderful environment to make new friends and raise their family. Patty loved her boys so much, and her daughters-in-law, Rebecca and Angela, she adored and loved as her own. Five Rogers grandkids meant sharing their births and graduations, and as many adventures as possible in between. Patty dearly loved her grandchildren and had a special bond with each one.
With her boys all grown, and retirement still a few years away, Patty met Greg Marek, and in 1998 they were married. Traveling north or south regularly to be with grandchildren, or meeting for fishing and 4th of July parades in Mammoth, Patty and Greg were blessed with an abundance of unforgettable weekends and vacations with family. When she started facing serious health challenges, Greg’s unconditional love and support never waivered. When caregiving and hospitalizations became increasingly difficult for both Patty and Greg, they always felt fortunate to be in love, retired, and able to spend every day together. Patty’s family cannot thank Greg enough for the exceptional care and love he gave her in this second half of her life.
Patty lived most of her life in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, where she enjoyed working at Sambo’s corporate office in the 80’s, and retired from UCSB after a 21 year career. She loved being around family and friends, walking on the beach with her dog Cid, golfing with her girlfriends, weaving at the Wake Center, sewing, quilting, knitting, crafting, and making jewelry. You could say there wasn’t a crafting project she didn’t like, or want to try. Patty also enjoyed hours spent researching the history of the Ponce, Navarro, and Rogers’ families.
Patty always had a listening ear and a kind, encouraging word for all. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Life will be different without you, but we know you’re watching over us and listening to us up in the heavens. The memories will forever keep you in our hearts till we meet again.
Patty is survived by her husband Greg Marek; first husband Jack Rogers; sons Mark (Becky) Rogers and Greg (Angie) Rogers; granddaughters Cassie, Kylie, and Lindsey Rogers; grandsons Caden and Kyle Rogers; brother Michael Ponce; sisters Diane Spaulding and Nancy Ponce Andrade (Manuel); nephew Gary Ponce; and nieces Michelle Stransky (Kyle) and Kelly Ponce. Patty’s brother, Bob Ponce, predeceased her in 2010.
A celebration of Patty’s life will be held on Sunday, February 26th at Lions Park in Carpinteria, 6197 Casitas Pass Road from 2-6 pm. Please email an RSVP to Jack Rogers (jackwrogers44@gmail.com), Nancy Ponce (njpon@verizon.net), or Greg Marek (gmarek7@cox.net). Please bring photos and stories to share as we celebrate a very special lady.
Patty received phenomenal care from doctors and the medical staffs at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Ridley-Tree Sansum Clinic. Many doctors over the years became friends to Patty, and their dedicated and compassionate attention to her health added years to her life. In Santa Barbara alone, there were many such doctors, but not too many to mention. Thank you for being there for one we loved so dearly; Patty’s PCP, Dr. Richard Ponce; Drs. Julie Taguchi, Mark Wilson, Gregory Cogert, Brett Gidney, David Gillon, James Dunn, and James Zmolek; Sansum Hospitalists, Drs. Summer Baird, Benjamin Diener, Jeremy Lash, Kyle Lemon, Sean McGuinness, and Jeffrey Yim; and at UCLA, Drs. Run Yu, Masha Livhits, and Michael Yeh.