Patricia Barkas Gregory, 59, of Lincoln, Mass. Are there any lives that can be distilled into column inches? Probably not. For our beautiful, generous, open-hearted, talented, and much-beloved Patty, however, such a feat is impossible. Any suitable description would necessarily require volumes and include recordings of her singing and photos of her beauty. But convention calls. Patty was born on March 28, 1959 and died on November 8, 2018 surrounded by loved ones. She lived her entire life in and around Lincoln and Boston. Patty went to the Lincoln Public Schools (where she met her husband Jay in 6th grade). She majored in vocal performance at the Boston University School of Fine Arts and received her BA in 1982. Patty excelled as a coloratura soprano. Following graduation Patty expanded her musical expression and entered the world of Rock and Roll. (Patty thrilled when first discovering the amplified power of a microphone and monitor.) Beginning in the mid- 1980s, Patty sang with a succession of bands and performers including, "Face to Face," Peter Wolf, "RTZ" (including Brad Delp and Barry Goudreau of "Boston"), Greg Greenway, and "The Bent Men." Patty could wail with the best of them. She toured internationally and was a Go To vocalist for studio, church, industrials, and session work. In addition to Rock, Patty sang folk, jazz, and even Big Band (she was a featured soloist and toured nationally with the Capital Center Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Clayton Skip Poole). Patty also wrote and recorded her own music. Patty was not a GB singer. Patty married her childhood sweetheart, Jay, in 1985. They lived in Boston for 21 years and in 2006 moved to Patty's childhood home so that she could care for her mother Mary for the last years of her life. Patty transformed this home (a 1950's, split-entry, raised ranch) into an open, free-flowing, and beautiful sanctuary in which Mary had her own sun-filled suite. Patty had a unique aesthetic sense that blended elegance, beauty, and the sacred. Her home was her temple. Patty was forever curious about the divine, the metaphysical, and the spiritual. She was a student and connoisseur of mystery. Patty's most essential quality, however, was her empathy and open heart. Truly, Patty was (and is) widely and well beloved. When Patty hugged you and looked into your eyes, you knew you were seen and accepted. She had numerous friends who consider her their "best" or "most special friend" – and they all were. She did not play favorites. She freely gave of herself, her time, and her talents. She was not stingy with her love. She was grace, she was heart, she was love. Patty leaves her husband, Jay Gregory of Lincoln, and her sister, Barbara Barkas of Woburn. Family and friends will gather for her memorial service in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center, on Saturday, November 17th at 4 pm. A reception will follow at deCordova Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. They ask that in lieu of flowers you make a donation in her name either to Tom Tam and Tong Ren Healing https://tongrenstation.com/donate/ or to your favorite charity. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.