Jeffrie Katherine Patterson

Jeffrie Katherine Kirchberg Patterson

August 4, 1952 – May 22, 2026

With profound love and sadness, we announce the passing of Jeffrie Katherine Kirchberg Patterson, who died peacefully in Riverside, California on May 22, 2026, at the age of 73, surrounded by family, prayer, music, and love.

Jeffrie was born in Hawthorne, California on August 4, 1952, to Frank and Rachel Kirchberg, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her husband, George Sheffield Patterson, who passed away in 2000.

Jeffrie was a deeply spiritual woman, a lifelong artist and painter, and a person whose presence was impossible to forget. She moved through life with intelligence, intensity, humor, conviction, and a wonderfully spicy personality that could fill a room. She made friends wherever she went and had a rare gift for making strangers feel seen and welcomed within moments of meeting them.

She was extraordinarily generous, often giving freely to others even when she herself had very little. Jeffrie lived with an open heart and a compassionate spirit, always wanting to help someone in need, offer comfort, share what she had, or make another person feel less alone in the world.

Jeffrie lived in many places throughout the United States over the course of her life and traveled widely around the world, experiences that shaped her adventurous spirit, deep curiosity, and gift for connecting with people from every walk of life. Though her journey carried her far and wide, California always remained home in her heart, and she ultimately returned to her native state, where she resided for the last 45 years of her life.

Art was one of the great loves of her life. She found beauty everywhere and expressed it through painting, creativity, storytelling, style, and conversation. Her spirituality guided her throughout her life and remained an important source of strength and meaning to her through both joyful and difficult times.

In her final days, Jeffrie was surrounded by those who loved her dearly. Her family shared stories, prayers, music, laughter, and quiet moments of tenderness at her bedside, ensuring that she was never alone and was cared for with dignity, gentleness, and love until the very end.

She is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Kim (née Kirchberg) Sawicki and Bradford Sawicki of Connecticut.

She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Jacob Schmitt of Sendai, Japan; Anna and Scott Todner of Wollongong, Australia; Seth Schmitt and his fiancée, Alyssa Sweet, of Decatur, Georgia; and Jacob Sawicki and his fiancée, London Sylvia, of Waterford, Connecticut. Jeffrie was also blessed with one cherished great-grandson, Rory Allen Todner of Wollongong, Australia.

Jeffrie shared an especially close bond with her brother, Thomas Kirchberg, and his wife, Mebrat Belay, of Memphis, Tennessee. Their unwavering love, companionship, and years of devoted care were among the greatest blessings of her life.

She is also survived by her brother, Daniel Kirchberg, and his wife, MaryAnn, of Hilton Head, South Carolina, who played an important role in raising her daughter, Kim, during her early years. She is survived by nieces, Sarah (Kirchberg) Inboden and her husband, Lucas, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ashley Kirchberg of Virginia.

A private family burial will take place in Chicago at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jeffrie’s memory to California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Jeffrie will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.