Patricia Ann DeGroot (nee Belmonte)

Patti passed quietly away at home.  She was the oldest of four children and is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Ted.  She was preceded by her parents and brother Frank and is survived by sisters Mary and Frances.  Pat was born and raised in the Muskegon, Michigan where she attended Muskegon Catholic Central and Muskegon Community College, worked in the Detroit area for many years in the travel business, and retired from that endeavor three decades ago making Naples her forever home.

Patti was well known in the Naples area for her work as a librarian and program coordinator for the Collier County Libraries and was regarded by many as the face of live library events until she retired from the county.  She moved on to become the driving force for many of the community events sponsored by the Friends of the Collier County Libraries.  She was an active member of the Woman’s Republican Club of Naples, the Friends of Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, an ongoing proponent for the Naples Botanical Garden and The Naples Players.

Her life will be celebrated in a funeral mass at St. Peters Catholic Church at 10:00, Thursday August 29th.  For friends and family who cannot attend The Mass it will be live streamed live at http://youtube.com/live/JA1iHpJaObo?feature=share.  A memorial event will also take place in the Muskegon area on September 27, details to be announced.

For those so wishing, donations may be made in her name to:  Friends of the Library of Collier County at collier-friends.org/donate.