Patricia Ann (Drage) Hallam

Patricia “Patty” Drage Hallam

April 29, 1949 - 2026

Middlebury, VT

Patricia Drage Hallam passed away on April 19, 2026 at home in Middlebury, VT surrounded by

loving family and friends. Patty was born on April 29, 1949 in Elyria, OH to Lester E. Drage and

Mary (Sederis) Drage.

Patty was a 1967 graduate of Elyria High School in Ohio, attended Central Michigan University,

and graduated from Fanny Allen School of Practical Nursing. A life-long learner, Patty later took

classes at both Trinity and Woodbury Colleges.

Frustrated with her very first college experience, Patty and a close friend left school to hitchhike

across Europe. Patty especially loved visiting Ireland, England and Scotland. After returning to

the states, she worked as a ride-operator at an amusement park in Sandusky, OH. After that

she moved to VT to take up the life of a ski bum, working at both The Lodge and Trapp Family

Lodge in Stowe.

One day in December 1970, while trying to hitch a ride to the mountain, Patty was picked up by

a fellow ski bum, David Hallam. She didn’t know it then but she’d just met the absolute love of

her life. That winter, Patty and David spent many nights listening to records in Patty’s small

apartment above the Trapp Family Tea House, they danced at the Rusty Nail, and skied. Patty,

always the adventurer, said yes to being a governess to two small boys living in Austria. While

she pined for David, she also enjoyed the boys and the delicious Austrian pastries. Unable to

bear Patty’s absence, David called her in Austria to propose. Patty not only said yes but said

that she’d already bought an early plane ticket home, ending her role as governess because

she missed him too. The two were married on March 4, 1972. This was the start of 54

beautiful, love-filled, years together.

To know Patty was to be embraced by a deep spirit of optimism, love and joy. Her welcoming

smile and beautiful blue eyes were captivating. Patty loved to sing and we always knew when

she was happy because she would be singing all throughout the house.

She spent her whole life helping others. Volunteer service was an important part of Patty’s life

and she walked-the-talk. She worked as an aide at Green Mountain Nursing Home and then as

an LPN in the newborn nursery at UVMMC. Once their three children came along, David

devoted himself to his family and his work while Patty devoted herself to her family and many,

many hours volunteering. While living in South Burlington and Middlebury, Patty volunteered

with the Visiting Nurse Association, The Lund Family Center, Refugee Resettlement, Green

Mountain

Prevention Projects, Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF, Spirit-in-Nature, Shelburne Farms, Meals on

Wheels, Vermont Respite House, Heifer International, Head Start Program, Helen Porter

Nursing Home, and as an ESL tutor, just to name a few. Patty also was co-founder of the

Henriette Katuka Memorial Fund, raising over $100k with the help of The Woods Tea Company

to feed and provide medicine to orphans in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Learning so

much from her volunteer roles, and finding such purpose there, Patty felt that high school

students would also benefit immensely by volunteering in their community. In 1997, she started

the Volunteers in Action office at South Burlington High School connecting students with

volunteer opportunities.

Most significantly, Patty worked with the Champlain Valley and Addison County CROPWALK

committees for 31 years as Recruitment Chair and Co-Chair respectively. After she and David

moved to Middlebury in 2006, Patty joined the Hospice Wellspring Singers. Combining her love

of singing and of helping others, singing to patients at their bedside brought her immense joy.

Patty enjoyed many active years running, skiing, hiking and bicycling. She and her beloved

sister, Leslie, went on many guided and self-supported bicycling adventures. She also saw the

Beatles live twice and had aspirations of marrying Paul, but life took her in a different direction.

Patty leaves behind her husband, the love of her life, David Hallam. She also leaves behind

her daughter Aubrey (Gavin) Boyles of Montpelier, VT, son Tyler of Great Barrington, MA and

daughter Kim of Ashburn, VA, sister Leslie (Gary) Goodman of Elyria, OH. She also leaves

behind her loving grandchildren Liam and Thea Boyles of Montpelier, VT.

Patty’s family would like to thank Patty’s Posse, Dr. Laura Weylman, Dr. Zail Berry, Addison

Home Health & Hospice, and all the friends that enriched her life beyond measure. Patty died at

home, at the age of 76, from complications related to Lewy Body and Parkinson's diseases. In

lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014,

Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. A celebration of Patty’s life will be held on Saturday, May 30,

11am at the Congregational Church of Middlebury, Middlebury, VT., all are welcome.

Arrangements by Miller & Ketcham of Brandon.