Patricia "Pat" (Yoko) Mccracken

FAMILY REQUESTS NO FLOWERS

Our Mother. Our Coach. Our Compass. It’s impossible to capture the force that was our mom—Patricia Louise McCracken—in a few paragraphs. She wasn’t just a mother, a grandmother, a sister, or a friend. She was a presence. Tough as nails, fiercely independent, and full of heart, she taught us how to stand on our own two feet—by doing it herself every single day of her life. Born and raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Mom grew up without a father—he passed away just months after she was born—but she never let that define her. If anything, it made her stronger. From a young age, she knew struggle, and she met it head-on—with stubbornness, humor, and a whole lot of grit. She graduated from Aliquippa High School and built a life centered around family, faith, and hard work. When our dad passed away in 1991, Mom never looked for another love. “He was the only one I ever needed,” she’d say, and she meant it. She carried his memory like a quiet fire, steady and unshakable. Mom worked countless jobs over the years—especially when Dad was laid off from the mill—always sacrificing so we could have more. And somehow, even with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she always made time to play with us. She loved sports, and some of our best memories are playing catch, tossing a football, or shooting hoops with her out front. She didn’t just cheer from the sidelines—she was the team. She called BINGO at the Pulaski Fire Hall. She ruled the table at Bunco night. And she spent over 30 years at Hank’s Frozen Custard, becoming a summertime legend. Hank’s wasn’t just a job—it was family. Dozens of kids who worked there looked up to her like a second mom, and customers came back year after year to see her smiling face at the window. She had a way of making people feel seen.  She enjoyed taking bus trips and traveling with her family. Mom also had a strong faith—quiet but deep. In her final days, she was surrounded by the love she gave her whole life. And while her immediate family was by her side, we know she also carried with her the love of so many special friends—friends from every era of her life—who stayed connected over the years. Those lifelong bonds meant the world to her, and they were never forgotten. Now, our mother has received the greatest gift of all: she is with Jesus Christ our Lord. The One she personally believed in, the One who gave her strength in her hardest moments. She never forced faith on anyone, but she lived it in a way you couldn’t miss. We know she is whole again—reunited with our Dad and finally meeting the father she never got to know on this side of heaven. She leaves behind the family she loved fiercely: Her daughter Michelle (and husband Dave Dampman) of Lebanon, PA; her sons Kenneth McCracken (and wife Bonnie) of New Brighton, Shawn McCracken (and wife Robyn) of Monaca (Center Township), and Kevin McCracken (and wife Teresa) of New Brighton. She was a proud grandma to her grandsons: Nicholas Dampman (and wife Allison) of Harrisburg, PA; Noah McCracken of Denver, CO; Cameron McCracken and Tyler McCracken, both of Monaca (Center Twp.); Connor McCracken and William McCracken, both of New Brighton, PA. and her granddaughters: Brittany (McCracken) Dieter and her husband Cary Dieter of Glenshaw, PA; and Cassidy McCracken of Monaca (Center Twp.); great-grandson, Liam Dieter; several nieces, nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother Joseph Yoko, her sisters Jeannie Rhodes and Marylee Duafala, and her mother Margaret (Roscoe) Yoko. Mom loved spending time with all her grandkids—watching them grow, cheering them on, and celebrating every graduation and milestone. Friday nights were for laughs with her friends, eating out and catching up like she was still in her 20s. She was involved in church, community groups, and anything where she could lend a hand or a smile. She gave everything she had to us—and more. We didn’t just lose our mom. We lost our anchor. Our protector. Our hero. But heaven gained a warrior, a mother, a friend—and one unforgettable soul.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial visitation Saturday, June 21, 2025, at J & J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 Third Ave, New Brighton, from 9 a.m. until time of Blessing service at 10:30 a.m.  Fr. Kim Schreck, officiating.

Pat will be laid to rest in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Mausoleum with her husband, Wayne.

Memorial contributions may be made in Pat's name to KDKA Turkey Fund, P.O. Box Thanks, Pittsburgh, Pa 15230.