Patricia "Pat" A. Tenuta

Patricia (Pat) A. Tenuta (Rivers), age 97, of Racine, passed on to eternity on July 3, 2026, at her home surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren.

Pat was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 15, 1929, she was the daughter of Aloysius and Gertrude (Zabinski) Rivers. She graduated from St. Patrick’s Grade School and St. Catherine’s High School, Class of 1947.

Pat worked for twelve years at Western Publishing in Racine. It was there she met her future husband, Saverio (Sam) Tenuta, another Western employee, during a company bus trip to a Milwaukee Braves baseball game. On September 21, 1957, they were united in marriage at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. The couple joined St. Lucy Parish in Racine in 1958, where they remained active members for many years. In recent years, since 2020, Pat also attended St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Kenosha.

A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Pat’s faith and family were the center of her life. She was a lifelong Green Bay Packer fan and an enthusiastic traveler who visited Hawaii, Europe, numerous cruise destinations, and many places across the United States. She cherished Big Band era music, trips to the casino, playing cards with friends, and working through her beloved puzzle books. Pat could spend hours watching classic movies of every genre and always looked forward to frozen custard runs to Leon’s and Adrian’s for her favorites—raspberry and butter pecan. Above all, she treasured her role as wife to Sam for 51 years, and as mother and grandmother to her family.

She is survived by her son, Jeffrey M. Tenuta of Racine; daughter, Diane C. Tenuta of Racine; twin grandchildren, Nathan J. Tenuta of Racine and Amy N. and Zach Tenuta-Lewis of Milwaukee; honorary step-grandson, Joseph Hird of Racine; along with their mother, Cindy Lesko, her dear friend and traveling companion, MaryAnne Hoffmann; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and other cherished relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Pat was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Saverio E. (Sam) Tenuta; her grandson, Nicholas M. Tenuta; her parents, Aloysius and Gertrude (Zabinski) Rivers; Sam’s parents, Saverio Tenuta Sr. and Mary (Serpe) Tenuta; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Florence “Babe” Rivers; her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou and Frank Rondinelli; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Annunziato “Nunzie” and Gloria Tenuta, Rachel Tenuta, Anthony and Dorothea Tenuta, and Robert Tenuta; her nephews, Mark Rondinelli, Gary Rivers, and James Tenuta; and her niece-in-law, Constance (Connie) Rivers. She was also preceded by a vast treasure trove of ancestral relatives, numbering into the thousands. Pat took great joy in genealogy and sharing stories of her large family tree.

Visitation and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 13, 2026, at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Avenue, with Rev. Andrew Swientlik officiating. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., with the funeral Mass beginning at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Garden Mausoleum.

Memorials in Pat’s honor may be directed to St. Lucy Catholic Church in Racine, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Kenosha, or the American Cancer Society.